Dorset Chamber has announced new details about its major business festival this autumn.

The Dorset Business Festival – the first event of its kind in the chamber’s 74-year history – is being held from October 10 to 12 in Bournemouth.

The chamber has welcomed five Festival Partners for the event: Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth and Poole College, Dorset Council, The Dolphin and the YMCA Bournemouth. They follow hot on the heels of law firm Lester Aldridge, which is the Premier Festival Partner.

Dorset Chamber has also announced the conference’s keynote speaker as David Smith, who is economics editor of The Sunday Times.

He will open the topic-based conference on October 10, before an expo is held on October 11 and the Dorset Business Awards on October 12.

Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said: “Excitement is growing for the Dorset Business Festival.

“We are thrilled to welcome Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth and Poole College, Dorset Council, The Dolphin Centre and the YMCA as Festival Partners.

“They are all longstanding and highly valued supporters of the chamber, whose enthusiasm and commitment will turbocharge the event.

“The festival promises to be a superb celebration of business, which will also address the very real issues being faced by many owners, directors and managers today.”

Dorset Chamber, the county’s leading business support organisation, has also secured presenter and former BBC Breakfast business correspondent Declan Curry as host of the conference.

Topics at the conference are likely to include technology and the environmental, social and governance agenda. There will also be networking opportunities.

The expo will feature stands, presentations and networking while the Dorset Business Awards – returning after four years – will be presented in 10 categories following judging by an independent panel of business leaders and experts.

Dorset Chamber, the voice of business, is officially launching the festival at its President’s Lunch hosted by Caron Khan on April 19 at the Italian Villa in Poole. The special guest and keynote speaker will be Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). 

Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/ for more details about the chamber and the Dorset Business Festival.