This morning's launch event - "Are you smarter than a chief exec?" - brought together four students from Trinity & All Saints College to take on some of the city's top chief execs.

Battling it out in the boardroom against Chris Green, managing director of Johnston Press (Northern Division); Rick de Blaby, chief executive of developer MEPC; Glenn King, director of Yorkshire Bank, and Helen Thomas, BBC's head of region for Yorkshire, the students were testing their knowledge of topics such as music, sport, business and Yorkshire in front of an audience at Hilton Leeds City on Neville Street.

The day kicked off with a breakfast networking session, before Tom Riordan, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, opened the event with Mike Firth, managing director of Regional International Business Conventions, Glenn King and Deborah Green, chief executive of Marketing Leeds.

The event is one of many set to highlight Leeds' position as the UK's fastest growing core city.

Spearheaded by Marketing Leeds, in association with RIBC, organisers of The Yorkshire International Business Convention, and sponsored by Yorkshire Bank, Leeds Business Week will comprise more than 20 events being held across the city.

This will include a two-day Business Expo hosted by Leeds Chamber, an international financial services day featuring a major international conference hosted by the Alliance of Mergers and Acquisitions Advisors and Transatlantic Business Council, and culminating in the 13th Yorkshire International Business Convention on Friday in Harrogate.

Leeds Business Week will also include a seminar on "PR management in a Crisis" from Clarence Mitchell, the former BBC reporter now acting for the family of missing youngster Madeline McCann.

There will also be a achance for people to have their say in "What would you like to change?", hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, and a half day conference on running a green and profitable business.

Deborah Green, chief executive at Marketing Leeds, said: "We've pulled together a fantastic programme of events for the week, there's something in it for everyone in business, no matter what size of their organisation.

"We've managed to secure a real variety of events taking place over the week, with everything from PR and motivation to podcasting and a business education event, designed to get the kids involved in business at a young age."

Glenn King, director at Yorkshire Bank, added: " We're delighted to be supporting the first Leeds Business Week; the events really showcase what the city is about when it comes to business, and just what Leeds can achieve.

"We're looking forward to welcoming everyone from the Leeds business community and beyond, over the next few days."

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