THE first ever Ambitious Essex Business Summit will take place next month, Essex County Council has announced.

The summit will bring the business community together for a landmark event designed to inspire growth, innovation, and collaboration. It is open to all Essex-based firms, from startups to established enterprises.

It will take place on Wednesday 9 October 2024, at Hylands House in Chelmsford.

The theme of the summit, “Grow, Innovate, Connect”, captures the key objectives of the day. Attendees will gain insights into:

business support offered by the council
sustainable practices and green opportunities
how to embrace innovation
learning from other local businesses
Local athlete Danny Crates, one of the UK’s most decorated Paralympians, will be acting as host for the day, sharing his own inspirational story.

The summit will feature a panel session chaired by former Secretary State for Education, the Rt Hon Justine Greening, who is now chair of the Purpose Coalition.

Other guest speakers include Freddie Fford, founder of Patch, and Bolaji Sofoluwe, founder of ETK Group.

Event highlights Include:

keynote speakers featuring top local business leaders and innovators
expert-led workshops delivered by partners including, Let’s Do Business Group, ARU (Anglia Ruskin University), Innovate UK, ACL, Deyton Bell, Essex County Council’s own procurement team and H-Creative
networking opportunities and a dedicated networking space hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
hands-on zones focused on innovation, sustainability, business support and skills and inclusive employment
local food and drink entrepreneurs, learn more about the growing Essex gastro-culture landscape
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Communities and Business Engagement at Essex County Council, said “The Ambitious Essex Business Summit event offers a unique opportunity for local businesses to come together and engage directly with us, so we can better understand their needs.

“Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss the different roles played in driving growth, and we hope the event will strengthen relationships within the Essex business community.”

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “I look forward to attending the first-ever Ambitious Essex Business Summit. This exciting event is vital as we look to align our skills and business support agenda.

“The right skills are an essential component of business success and growth, and the event will provide Essex businesses with the opportunity to learn more about what support is available in the county, as well as provide an opportunity for businesses to share their needs directly with us.”

Tickets are limited and businesses should secure a free ticket early.

Further speakers and details will be released soon.

Reserve your place now by visiting the Ambitious Essex Business Summit Registration website.