lovelocalexpo creates buzz in Burnley

The 2022 lovelocalexpo took place on 27 April at Impact Conferencing in Burnley. This annual event from the lovelocalnetworking team brings businesses and buyers together to meet new suppliers, clients and collaborators and to access a wealth of business support, guidance, growth & scale-up advice too.

The purpose-built auditorium and the 50 exhibition stands were buzzing. There was a steady flow of visitors who were impressed with the large array of businesses to meet which included everything from sales, marketing, finance, web & design, to integrated systems, telecoms, IT systems and support, to HR and legal, employee wellbeing, nutrition, CSR and much more. Exhibitors were pleased with the high calibre of business visitors and the quality of contacts made both with visitors and fellow exhibitors, many having met each other at an exclusive pre-expo networking event a month before.

The on-site café meant that exhibitors could easily invite clients along for a sit down catch-up, which many did. It also meant that visitors could spend the day making new connections and learning valuable new skills at the expert seminars, run in the industrial themed Red Room upstairs. The four information packed sessions attracted large audiences as ever, with attendees of the first seminar learning How To Create a Profitable Youtube Channel with Youtuber Pav Sz. The packed 11am keynote session, ‘Don’t Just Acquire Customers, Create Fans!’ was delivered by Darren Neill, the East Lancs Sales Director at Sales Geek, who were also the seminar sponsors at the expo.

Organiser Rachel Kay said: "We are absolutely delighted to be able to provide this annual platform for businesses to come together, meet and grow. This year we had everything and everyone your business could need, all under one roof. All our key local and county-wide stakeholders were with us: Boost Lancashire; East Lancashire Chamber; Lancashire Business View; all three universities UCLan, Edgehill and Lancaster; Burnley College; Blackburn College; the new Lancashire Apprenticeship Service; the Burnley Brand team; Burnley Football Club; as well as 2022 Event Partners the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Visitor feedback was exceptional, both regarding the quality of business and growth guidance available, and the wealth of business exhibitors to meet.

"It was fantastic to be back fully face-to-face again with warm smiles, handshakes and constant chatter filling the exhibition space. For me, nothing beats the buzz of watching and listening as new relationships are sparked and existing ones are expanded upon at our events. Having Impact Conferencing on our doorstep is such a coup for Burnley, the facilities and event support are exceptional. We are extremely grateful both to our venue and to our Partners & Sponsors for enabling us to deliver such a successful event year on year and already can’t wait for lovelocalexpo 2023. We’d actually sold half of next year’s stands by the end of the day!"

Stephen Bolton of Lancashire Business View, Exclusive Media Partners for the expo, concurred, “What struck me yesterday, in between chatting to exhibitors and delegates, was how fortunate we are to have such a strong and supportive business community. A few years back we made a conscious effort to set up strategic partnerships with key associates, including lovelocalsolutions, helping promote one another’s events. It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made.”

The 2023 expo will return to Burnley on 26 April 2023. To secure free visitors tickets, book one of the remaining stands, or view the cost effective sponsorship packages, head to https://lovelocalexpo.co.uk/
To view upcoming free monthly networking events from the lovelocalteam, or sign up for their VIP e-newsletter crammed with events and news from across the country, visit https://lovelocalnetworking.co.uk

Photography by Liz Henson Photography