Welcome to Business Link events portal

The home of everything you need to know about Business Link events in the north east. Whether you are looking for advice on starting a business, business development support or business growth advice, we are here for you every step of the way.
HOME SUCCESS STORIES North East Regional Business Fair Exceeds Expectations
North East Regional Business Fair Exceeds Expectations
The North East Regional Business Fair ran on 25th and 26th February and has been hailed a great success by all involved.  During two days, over 2,000 people participated in the event, which was held at Newcastle Racecourse & Conference Centre.  The extensive seminar programme proved to be very popular, with hundreds turning out to learn about plans for the second Tyne Tunnel and to hear an Economic Outlook presentation and discussion hosted by David Buffham of the Bank of England.

Alastair MacColl, chief executive of Business Link, summarises the event’s success:
“This was quite simply the biggest and best event of its kind ever held in this region.  Over the two days we brought together over 140 buyers from across the UK with over 2000 North East based businesses.  The feedback has been really positive and, if the number of businesses attending the fair is a barometer of business activity, then it’s a great reminder that we are a region packed with great businesses, producing great products and delivering great services.”

Jim Taylor’s Gateshead company HT Print, exhibited at the fair.  Jim adds:
“This was an exceptionally good event for us, and very well organised.  We have generated about 25 genuine new leads and taken eight or nine immediate orders of significance, which far outstrips our expectations.  I won’t hesitate to participate again next time.”

Meet the Buyers was the centrepiece of the fair and generated a lot of business for North East companies.  The North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) was represented in Meet the Buyers and the team was very busy. 

Paul Butler, customer services manager, explains:
“We work closely with Business Link and saw this event as an opportunity to promote NEPIC, the NEPIC buying group and individual members.  Thanks to the meetings that we held, there is a real possibility that we will soon be signing up scores of new members, which is really encouraging.

“There were three NEPIC representatives at the fair, but we could really have done with more.  There’s an awful lot of interest in the process sector in general at the moment and that was reflected at the event.  We even had to ship in additional literature, due to the high number of visitors and the demand for information.

“In particular, I was really impressed by the scale and quality of the event.  I have spoken to several NEPIC members who attended and they have all stated how useful the event was for them.  I’ve attended numerous business events of this type in the past and they pale in comparison to this.  In short, I have been very impressed.”

Watch this space for more events like this in 2009.