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VentureFest North East – everything you need to know about the region’s innovation event of the year

The countdown has begun to major innovation event VentureFest North East, which takes place at St James’ Park, Newcastle on 14 November.

With just days to go until the conference throws open its doors, we take a look at what’s in store and why businesses cannot afford to miss out.

Here’s what you need to know:

When is VentureFest North East?

Tuesday 14 November from 8.30am to 5pm

Where will it be held?

St James’ Park, Newcastle, NE1 4ST. For directions and travel advice, £see here.

Who is VentureFest North East for?

Innovation is a survival skill for all businesses so the event is designed to appeal to companies of all sizes, sectors and structures.

With more than 700 ‘ideas people’ expected to attend it’s a unique opportunity to learn from those in new circles. Whether your business is just starting up or has a hundred years’ experience behind it, the event is packed with content to help you remain relevant, competitive, and profitable.

VentureFest annually attracts a wide range of people including entrepreneurs, start-up and established businesses, investors, researchers and innovation experts.

What can you expect?

It’s a day designed to generate new ideas, solutions, opportunities and collaborations to strengthen businesses, stimulate new jobs and impact on the bottom line.

Expect lively debates and discussions, real-life stories of innovation, practical workshops, inspiring exhibitions, expert advice and excellent networking opportunities. High profile local and national speakers will highlight what the region’s strengths are today and where the opportunities of tomorrow lie.

What’s new for 2017?

If you’ve been to the event before you can rest assured you’ll see familiar favourite elements such as Innovation Showcase and Business Growth Hub Live. The organisers are always keen to evolve the programme though and this year the event sees some new additions including the People’s Choice theme of dealing with change, which has been shaped directly by the business community and focuses on innovation trends, digital disruption and designing a successful business model.

A ‘Women in Innovation’ theme will feature throughout the conference where some of the issues facing the business world and society will be debated.

A series of Live Innovation Challenges will also be running throughout the event, that offer the chance for regional businesses to solve issues facing big organisations and win new work. Infrastructure and digital are the broad themes to be explored.

Who are the speakers at VentureFest North East?

Almost 40 speakers will share their expertise over the full-day event, through lively debates, discussions and issue-led workshops designed to provide tools and inspiration to enable innovation within regional businesses. They’ll also explain ways to win new work from their projects.

The keynote speakers already confirmed include:

• Paul Smith, Global Field Operations, Hyperloop One
• Phil Kite, Team Tyne Innovation and Former CEO of Reece Group
• Joanna Feeley, Founder and CEO of Trend Bible
• Simon Thorpe, Owner of Delta 2020
• Sarah Stewart OBE, Chief Executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI)

Who’s behind VentureFest North East?

VentureFest North East is part of a national family of VentureFest events. The North East edition of the event is now in its fifth year and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The event is part of the wider programme from Innovation SuperNetwork, and it is designed by businesses for businesses.

VentureFest North East is developed with around 50 partner organisations to support innovation in the North East. Led by the VentureFest North East team, the SuperNetwork is supported by Innovation UK, The North East LEP, Northumbrian Water Group, the North East BIC, and Reece Innovation, with part-funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

How much are tickets for VentureFest North East?

The event is FREE for local businesses to attend.

Here’s FIVE reasons why you should attend VentureFest North East:

1. Hear inspiring stories from great speakers
2. Gain practical skills and tools from workshops
3. Network with useful new connections from a range of backgrounds
4. Explore new commercial opportunities
5. Learn about how innovation can impact on your bottom line.

**£Reserve your FREE space at VentureFest North East here. **

**Keep up to date with VentureFest North East on £Twitter and £LinkedIn. **

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by VentureFest North East .