Festival of Enterprise

Festival of Enterprise 2025

There is nowhere better to start and grow your business than Greater Manchester!

Join us on 14th March 2025 at the iconic Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester for return of the highly anticipated Festival of Enterprise —a celebration of entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity, now bigger, bolder, and more dynamic than ever!

Hosted by GM Business Growth Hub and presented by its successful EnterprisingYou programme, this FREE action-packed festival is your gateway to inspiration, connection, and actionable insights.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a small business owner, or someone with an exciting idea, Festival of Enterprise will empower you to turn your vision into a thriving business.

What’s in Store?

Keynote Speakers and Panels

Hear from trailblazers, industry experts, and entrepreneurs as they share their journeys, including the highs, the hurdles, and the hard-earned lessons.

Topics include:

• Mastering Marketing: Strategies to make your brand stand out.
• The Power of Exporting: Discover how even small steps can open new markets for your products and services.
• Finance for Success: Navigate grants, investment, and financial pitfalls to fuel growth.

Hands-On Workshops

Deep-dive sessions led by experts on:

• Pre-Start Essentials
• Finance
• Marketing & Sales
• Scaling and Growth

You’ll leave with actionable takeaways and discover the support available from the GM Business Growth Hub and the wider business support community to propel your idea or business forward.

Networking and Market Stalls

Connect with Greater Manchester’s vibrant entrepreneurial network and explore a marketplace of small businesses showcasing and selling innovative products including eco-friendly goods, artisanal crafts, tech solutions, and wellness products. Public sector partners will also be on hand, ready to support your ambitions.

Interested in showcasing your business? Submit an expression of interest to become a stallholder at the festival and share your products or services with a dynamic audience.

> Click here to express your interest in having a stall.

Pitching Corner

Pitch your business! Share it with a live audience, gain valuable feedback, and get noticed. It’s a perfect chance to promote your business and spark interest in your vision.

A Celebration

Enjoy an engaging and unique festival atmosphere with live music from talented local artists, complimentary tea and coffee, and a range of delicious food options for purchase throughout the day.

Why Attend?

• Gain expert insights to sharpen your business strategy.
• Meet like-minded entrepreneurs and build valuable connections throughout the day.
• Promote your business through pitching, stallholder opportunities, and networking sessions.

Don’t miss this chance to turn ambition into action.

Secure your FREE ticket today and join us for an unforgettable day celebrating entrepreneurship in Greater Manchester.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Bags and Belongings

The cloakroom will open throughout the event. Please try to avoid bringing large bags.

The cloakroom is located against the back wall of the Great Hall.

As part of the venue’s security measures, bag searches may be carried out on entry.

This Event will have photography and videography taking place during the Event, please do let a member of staff know if you do not wish to appear in any media

Eligibility to attend is age 16+ and based in Greater Manchester

GM Business Growth Hub is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The £7.5m funding has been made possible thanks to Greater Manchester Combined Authority securing funding to deliver UKSPF projects.

About the Venue

Occupying Manchester’s grade II listed Royal Exchange, we are the UK’s largest producing theatre-in-the-round and are a cultural hub and home for audiences, artists and communities. We produce an annual programme of theatre, supported by an ambitious and far-reaching engagement programme. This programme brings together people of all ages and circumstances with professional theatre, theatre-making and positive learning experiences. Each year we engage over 6,000 people through our three main strands of activity, with young people, local communities and with older people.

As a registered charity (no. 255424), the Royal Exchange Theatre works in partnership with similarly forward-thinking, visionary businesses to support our ground-breaking work both on and off stage. We work with a variety of corporate members and sponsors who help us ensure we can offer a wide range of activity.

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Host or Publisher The Growth Company