Record numbers attend inspiring sessions at Burnley Business Week 2024

Burnley Business Week 2024 concluded on a high note, with over 330 local entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals attending across 15 interactive workshops, making it one of the most successful events to date.

The theme of this year’s Business Week, Creativity and Inclusivity, brought fresh perspectives to the local business community, with brand-new workshops and dynamic guest speakers.

 Councillor Lubna Khan, executive member of Economy and Growth at Burnley Council, and Neil Burrows, director of skills and innovation at Burnley College, official sponsors of Burnley Business Week, opened the event to a packed room of attendees, setting the stage for a week of insightful and impactful learning.

 The new lineup of workshops – including The Power of Podcasting for Business, AI in Business, Empowering Your Business with Video, Cyber Security, A Journey Towards Becoming a Neuro-inclusive Workplace, and Unpacking Burnley Business Week with Enso Creative Arts – captured the essence of innovation and inclusivity. Each session was designed to equip attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the ever-changing business landscape.

 One of the highlights of the week was Friday's focus on the mind in business, where subtle but impactful sessions addressed the importance of mind health for professional success.

The week concluded with Friday Club featuring Six Connections, providing the perfect platform for reflection, networking, and future collaboration.

 In addition to the workshops, Burnley Business Week debuted its very own podcast series hosted by Luke Pollard from Burnley Socials, featuring conversations with local business leaders on topics such as resilience, inspiration, and success.

This series was a huge hit, allowing participants to engage with thought-provoking content at their own pace.

“The response this year has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Councillor Khan.

“Burnley Business Week has once again proven to be a key event for our business community, fostering connections and providing valuable insights that will drive local growth.”

 Neil Burrows added: "We’ve been immensely proud to sponsor this year’s Burnley Business Week. It’s inspiring to see how Burnley’s businesses are embracing creativity and inclusivity.

"The engagement this year has been fantastic, and the feedback so far shows that our workshops have sparked a lot of great conversations.”

Amelia Stalton-Tracey, digital marketing assistant at HAPPA, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions I attended for Burnley Business Week and found them very insightful - Root Fifty Two’s session on creating an outstanding website and the empower your business with video session with Dave Walker at +24 Marketing.

"As someone new to the marketing industry, I felt really supported and took so much away from them both! Thank you for hosting a great week!”

Virtual assistant, Rachel Killoran said:“I really enjoyed the session on becoming a more neuro-inclusive workplace. Coming from a neuro-divergent family, it was great to think about how I can apply those things I’ve learned as a spouse and parent to my work.

"Hearing from others in the room about their experiences and thinking about neuro-inclusivity in recruitment was especially helpful. I feel like this is a topic we talk about more often in social, educational and family settings, so thank you for bringing the need for neuro-inclusivity to the forefront of the conversation in a business context.”

With nearly 300 feedback forms still to review, the full impact of the week is yet to be fully measured, but early indications suggest that Burnley Business Week 2024 has set a new benchmark for future events.

For more information about Burnley Business Week and to stay updated on future events, visit www.burnley.gov.uk/business/business-support-and-advice or email [email protected]

Burnley Business Week took place between 30th September and 4th October, it is an annual event designed to support and empower local businesses through a series of free workshops, seminars, and networking opportunities. It brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts to share insights on a variety of topics, from marketing and technology to mental health and innovation. The event aims to foster growth, collaboration, and success within Burnley’s thriving business community.