Member Article

YEN Expo 2017 Conference In Bradford Expected To Be Biggest Yet

Plans are under way for the staging of Bradford’s biggest and most innovative business networking event.

Now in its sixth year, YEN Expo, run by Yorkshire Enterprise Network, it is expected to attract more than 1,500 delegates, with £1 billion worth of industry and services on show.

The conference brings together businesses and organisations from across the county to share ideas, develop new opportunities and showcase their products and services to a broad-ranging business audience.

The date has been set as Monday, November 6, and, for the third year running, the conference returns to Bradford College’s David Hockney building.

YEN director Sheraz Malik said: “We’re really excited to announce the plans for this year’s YEN Expo which is going from strength-to-strength every year. Building on previous achievements, the 2017 event will be even more innovative and more interactive.

“Bradford is the sixth largest city in the UK and is Yorkshire’s third biggest economic powerhouse, generating around £9 billion a year. As well as providing a platform for businesses and organisations to showcase their own brand, the conference gives us an opportunity to shout out to the wider world about what our great city is achieving.

“An extensive network of media partners will enable us to get that message out loud and clear to a direct audience of around 150,000 through print and digital media – with an even greater reach through our broadcast media partners”.

Attendance continues to grow year-on-year. More than 1,000 delegates visited the 2016 event – a fourfold increase on the 250 turnout recorded before YEN took over the running.

Analysis of the 2016 Expo has found that: 70 per cent of delegates were senior decision-makers in their organisation; 60 per cent were SMEs; more than 150 were directors or senior managers from large corporations; 15 per cent were from public sector organisations and ten per cent were from not-for-profit organisations.

Building on some of last year’s innovations, the 2017 event will be even more interactive. The day’s activities will be live-streamed via YouTube and Facebook and live Twitter feeds onscreen will enable delegates to engage and interact in real time.

There will be a broad mix of exhibition stands alongside informative events including a rolling programme of panel sessions, seminars, business clinics, international-calibre speakers and networking sessions.

Partners announced so far are: Bradford College, Malik House Business Centres, Bradford Council, The Yorkshire Society, Galaxy Comms, The Broadway Shopping Centre, Google Digital Garage, JCI Bradford (Junior Chamber International), and 4Networking.

Conference activities will also be promoted via the big screen in City Park.

The event takes place from 10am to 4pm in the David Hockney Building, off Great Horton Road, Bradford, and is free to attend for delegates.

To find out more about the conference, details of the sponsorship and exhibition packages, discounts, visit: www.yenexpo.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Yorkshire Enterprise Network .