Cardiff Design Festival

Budding entrepreneurs and expanding businesses are invited to attend a free event in Cardiff on 12 April, offering advice, encouraging business enterprise, and providing opportunities for funding.
Newly released figures show that Wales has suffered the biggest increase of business failures of any region in the UK during January-February this year when compared to the same period in 2010. The Capital Cardiff conference will help ensure that Welsh businesses have access to the expert advice they urgently need.

Hosted jointly by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce and Cardiff Council, the conference will offer insight from expert key-note speakers, seminars, exhibitions and the opportunity to network and establish new business contacts from across the UK.

The event at the City Hall, marks the start of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Business Season’, which sees six months of events, workshops and seminars culminating in the Chamber’s awards ceremony in October.

The conference aims to promote business growth and stimulate investment opportunities, while encouraging people’s entrepreneurial spirit with guidance to go-getters looking to start their own business.

Key-note speakers Simon Gibson, Chief Executive of Wesley Clover Corporation, and Tim Campbell, winner of the hit BBC TV series The Apprentice, will talk about their own business experiences and reveal what they believe is the secret to success.

In a Dragons’ Den style event, companies seeking investment will be given the opportunity to pitch their proposals before a live audience to a panel of business experts and will then be quizzed by the Panel. Businesses who survive the competitive pitching stage will then be invited to present their proposal to potential investors in one to one meetings, in the hope of securing financial backing.

Professional business advisers will also be on hand throughout the day to provide information and guidance to attendees, while seminars will address key issues facing businesses today, such as how to address risk and change in today’s market, and how to keep your existing customers. Seminars on marketing and the art of networking will also provide crucial information to those looking to start up their own business.

Graham Morgan, director of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, says: “There have been a number of high profile speeches recently about the importance of encouraging enterprise and helping British businesses succeed in today’s difficult economic climate, and the Capital Cardiff conference seeks to do exactly that.

“Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy, and this event will provide them with the practical and useful advice, as well as inspiring and motivating success stories, that gives them the impetus to be a success in business.

“We urge anyone who is either looking to start a business or growth an existing one to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to gain invaluable business insight – and what’s more, it’s free.”

Executive Member for Economic Development, Councillor Neil McEvoy commented: “We all know that the climate for businesses has been very challenging and now more than ever, businesses need all the help they can get. The Capital Cardiff Conference will give a vital platform to businesses in Cardiff to gain the advice and support they need to grow and prosper. This conference is just one of the ways in which the council is supporting business in the capital.

“It is important to emphasise just how much is on offer during this Conference and we would encourage you to register your attendance and benefit from a range of business advisors, investors, networking opportunities and topical seminars that will all be at your disposal for free during the day”.

Entrepreneurs and businesses looking to attend the conference can visit www.southwaleschamber.co.uk/capitalcardiff, the go-to resource containing all the information on the action-packed event.