A week-long programme of events and a host of keynote speakers have been announced ahead of a business festival taking place in and around Newcastle-under-Lyme next month.
The Shaping the Future Business Festival will run between Monday, 16 March and Friday, 20 March.
The opening day will focus on employment and entrepreneurs with a session featuring inspiring speakers, practical workshops and seminars designed to support careers, business growth and innovation taking place at St Giles Church.
This will be followed by an innovation and sustainability day at Keele University on 17 March and a business and networking day at the Lymelight Boulevard in Newcastle’s town centre on 18 March.
St Giles Church will stage a Women in Business Day, focussed on leadership, progression and enterprise and hosted by Sonya Farrall of BabaBaboon PR on 19 March, while the festival’s final day will focus on creative and digital industries.
Speakers across the week include Managing Director of Valentine Clays Hannah Ault, David Beech from Knights, Steve Timmis of Sempar Accountancy and Tax, Hixon Group’s Jonathan Lawton, Chaffinch’s Alastair Machin, Sud Basu from Outdoor Arts, Nicky Bartley of Thrive and Shine and Abzorbed IT’s Usman Shah.
Other speakers and workshop leads will be announced soon.
The festival, which attracted 300 attendees in its inaugural year last year, is organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, in collaboration with PH Production Services.
Pete Herbert, Managing Director of PH Productions, said: “The 2025 Shaping the Future Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Festival attracted businesses of all sizes and sectors who came together.
“Last year we delivered 25 interactive and educational workshops and there is going to be more on offer for 2026’s festival with seminars covering various themes from business growth and innovation, along with panel discussions focused on the creative and industries.
“We have also got some fantastic keynote speakers lined up and we cannot wait to announce more with everyone soon. It’s going to be a jam-packed festival.”
The Shaping the Future Business Festival is supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Registration is required to attend any of the events, and stands are available for business exhibitors.
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