FINAL preparations are being made for the first Leeds Business Week when the city will be coming together to showcase its credentials as a major international centre of commerce.
And the organisers are promising a varied programme ranging from wannabe chief execs battling in the boardroom to a fiery Dragon's Den-style education challenge, Loose Women lunching and a global networking opportunity.
The first week of June (Mon
day 2 – Friday 6) will see Yorkshire welcome international delegates to Leeds's first week dedicated to business in the city.
Challenge
Kicking off the programme of events will be an early-morning boardroom battle with a twist, as four budding business students take on the ultimate challenge in Are You Smarter than a Chief Exec? followed by a Loose (Business) Women lunch.
Leeds Business Week is spearheaded by the city's destination marketing agency, Marketing Leeds, in association with RIBC, organisers of The Yorkshire International Business Convention. It is sponsored by Yorkshire Bank.
More than 20 events are being held across the city, including a two-day Business Expo hosted by Leeds Chamber of Commerce.
The week will culminate in the 13th Yorkshire International Business Convention on June 6 in Harrogate.
Highlighting Leeds's position as the UK's fastest growing core city, Leeds Business Week will also include:
A half-day conference on running a green and profitable business
A chance to have your say in "What would you like to change?" hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers
An international financial services day, supported by Leeds Financial Services Initiative
A day-long Dragon's Den business education event in conjunction with Leeds University Business School.
Deborah Green, chief executive of Marketing Leeds, one of the organisations instrumental in establishing Leeds Business Week, said: "The Yorkshire International Business Convention is such a well-attended and successful event that we thought we should make the most of it.
"By holding a series of complementary events in the run-up, we will hopefully attract more people to Leeds, and to the convention itself.
"We all know that Leeds has a strong business offer, and this week-long series of events gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of Leeds as a business centre.
"Thanks to the enthusiasm with which the businesses across the city have embraced the idea, we have a programme of excellent speakers, seminars and a business expo to be proud of."
Mike Firth, chairman of RIBC, co-organisers of Leeds Business Week and founder of the Yorkshire International Business Convention, added: "We have put together a fantastic programme for the first Business Week in Leeds and we are confident that the events will attract business leaders from across Yorkshire to the city."
Visitors
Leeds Business Week coincides with the American Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors' international conference, which is being held in the city – meaning an extra 100 international delegates will already be in Leeds.
The visitors, from over a dozen countries, will be supporting Business Week by getting involved with the programme, in addition to hosting their own events throughout their stay.
Tickets are available for all events, but space is limited for key events.
For more information, a full programme of events, and how to book tickets visit www.leedsbizweek.biz.
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