Between the 3rd and 8th October over 860 participants attended events across the region for Dumfries and Galloway’s annual Business Week, a rise on last year’s numbers.
The week featured a wide range of events, workshops and seminars on a host of key topics, with businesses and participants coming from a diverse range of backgrounds, such as the Galloway Smokehouse, Women in Business, the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park and Creative Arts.
The range of topics gave entrepreneurs the chance to hear from businesses and ask questions on a wide area of subjects, such as digital marketing, working with local food producers, inward investment and a workshop dedicated to parents to help them develop their children into our future workforce.
The annual Business Breakfast launch, always a key event, gave delegates the opportunity to network and hear from Brian Williamson, Chairman of Brightwork. An entrepreneur with experience of both fast-advancing managerial career in industry and of his own high growth businesses; Brian is now in his 33rd year of running companies at Board level.
Business Development Day which was held on Wednesday held a number of informative and stimulating seminars as the part of the day. The main exhibition area showcased a number business’s that could provide support and assistance to growth businesses.
Attendees were also able to experience Helson and Jackets’ award winning, innovative, 3D 360 degree holographic video technology: as seen on Channel 5’s the Gadget Show. This exhibit was a Scottish Edge Winner in 2015 and is an invention from a company based here in Dumfries and Galloway.
Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson commented: “Our annual Business Week continues to go from strength to strength, highlighting the diverse range of businesses across our region and the value of support and advice passed on from our established business community to start up’s, entrepreneurs and our future workforce. It is fantastic that 860 people took part in the weeks events, which shows that businesses clearly can, and do, thrive in Dumfries and Galloway”.
Colin Smyth, Chair of the Council’s Economy Environment and Infrastructure Committee said, “We want to promote Dumfries and Galloway as a place where businesses can thrive, and it is of vital importance that we continue to offer free guidance and training to our local industries, large and small. A key message I have for businesses out there is that support and advice isn’t just there during Business Week but all year round from a whole host of agencies.”
Business Week 2016 was delivered by Dumfries and Galloway Council through its Business Gateway, in partnership with a range of regional business support organisations.
Anyone seeking information and support for their business should see the Business Gateway website www.bgateway.com/dumgal or telephone: 01387 808 738.
Photos:
Business Week Celebration Lunch with:
Sarah Holmes, Baird Windows, Brian Rennie DG Chamber, David Gardiner, Service Manger Business and Enterprise, Duncan Baird, Baird Windows, Alistair Speedie, Brian Williamson, CEO of Brightworks, Ronnie Nicholson and Gavin Stevenson
Group of people is from the business development day.
