2012 Booking Now Open!
See the 'Exhibitors' page to book...
There are some great businesses in High Wycombe and people to match. Well worth visiting.
- Simon, Thomas International
The Expo Story So Far
Our mission continues to be to showcase High Wycombe and the surrounding area as a place that really means business!
The brainchild of local entrepreneur, Elton Boocock, the lack of a flagship event to support a strong business community and put High Wycombe on the map seemed incredible. As Elton put it: ‘It seemed obvious to me: High Wycombe is such a key town in terms of business activity and its location, however we don’t have an annual event to show off our entrepreneurial talents! Timing is everything and I was delighted to find some like-minded people and so our planning team was created’.
One of the key organisations that readily joined the team was the Federation of Small Business. Hilda Stearn, Vice-chair of the South Bucks & Aylesbury branch and her colleague, Jenny Barnes, who both run local businesses, have been working closely with Elton to create an innovative event that will actively encourage all local businesses to get involved. ‘Developing something that really supports local businesses, particularly during these challenging times is something that the FSB is passionate about. The Expo is innovative and genuinely small-business friendly,’ commented Hilda. Jenny added: ‘We are delighted to be at the leading edge of showcasing entrepreneurial talent’. This spirit and commitment continues in 2012.
Getting the right partners is critical to the success of any venture and Elton added: ’the fact that the Bucks Free Press is now firmly established as our Media Partner is great news: the Talking Business publication is fast becoming a must-read and this is in no small part due to the newspaper’s support for the 2010 Expo.
The venue is of course a key component in the success of this prestigious event and this year exhibitors and visitors alike will again be stunned by the fabulous surroundings – not least because entry will be via the main entrance from the 200-place car park that is now ‘open for business’.
Continuing our theme of the business conversation our programme has evolved to ensure variety and relevance for to-day’s busy entrepreneur. This website holds lots of information that we hope you will find useful as you plan your day at the Expo.
Highlights include:
- Exhibitor briefing and networking before the Expo opens for business
- Café and wi-fi area to keep the business conversation going
- Networking lunch hosted by the High Wycombe Connections Club
- One-to-one surgeries on key issues facing small business
- Industry-leading seminars on current ‘hot topics’
- After Expo Party – a chance to let your hair down whilst dancing the evening away to a live band.
There are also opportunities to sponsor the event and we would be delighted to hear from you. Please see Contact Us page.
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Testimonials
"The expo was a great success and was well attended. It helped my small business gain greater exposure in the local market."
- Peter Davey Visual Solutions
"The expo was good fun and we met loads of people"
- HWA Events
"The WBE was a fantastic event, the organisation was brilliant, the networking opportunity the day before was great. The number of exhibitors and visitors was really good for a first expo. Congratulations to all."
- My Mates Rates
"Good opportunity to meet local businesses and successfully network. It allowed us to easily make contacts with companies we knew we should be making."
- Personal Career Management
"I think the first Wycombe Business Expo was extremely successful. The venue was bright and airy, everyone was very friendly and approcachable creating a welcoming atmosphere. Thank you for a well run professional event."
- HMRC
"We like the relaxed atmosphere of the Expo.There are some great businesses in High Wycombe and people to match.Well worth visiting."
- Thomas International
"We felt that the Expo was a great success. The venue was excellent and the layout provided a great opportunity for networking with other exhibitors as well as promoting our own business."
- Chancery Court Business Centre
"The Wycombe Expo was a good event for networking with small local businesses."
- ATG Training
"It was a great event, well organised and productive."
- BEBP
"The Expo was the perfect environment for business people who want to make new connections and grow their sales leads. Welcoming and friendly, well organised and in a stunning conference facility. People will be talking about it for months to come."
- The Alchemy Network
2010 News & PR
| 4th November 2010 Expo Attendee Testimonial The NHS Plus Health for Work Adviceline team attended the Wycombe Business Expo event last week. Rose Goodman, Occupational Health Adviser for Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Plus, commented, “We were delighted to attend the event. Good employers will invest in the health and wellbeing of their staff. This makes good business sense as it can improve performance and productivity as well as staff morale.” The Adviceline number is 0800 0778844 |
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20th October 2010 What was a very simple idea has grown into a major event, following the drive, vision and sheer determination of a group of local entrepreneurs. Elton Boocock, High Wycombe based businessman had the idea for sometime before eventually speaking with Jenny Barnes, who together with Elton and an FSB colleague, Hilda Stearn, set about forming a team and ‘Making it happen’. “We had seen a lot of negativity through the recession and felt it was time that entrepreneurs pulled together to do something positive” reported Elton. The team have been planning and building the event for almost 12 months. As with all new ideas, a lot of effort has gone in to the event before people bought into the aims of the Wycombe Business Expo. Then, with only weeks to go, businesses are diving onboard and the exhibition is over subscribed. The story of the Expo is in itself a fascinating tale of local entrepreneurialism with a social edge to it, as you find out that the whole team have volunteered hours of time tocreate this not for profit venture. The over-riding mission is to help other local businesses and to boost the local economy. This all day event taking place on the 28th October beginning with an Exhibitor Breakfast and including a Networking Lunch hosted by High Wycombe Connections Club and culminating with a Black Tie Dinner hosted by Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps really is the place to be. |
Not alone in the councils support of the event, Councillor Bill Bendyshe-Brown, Chairman of Wycombe District Council, will launch his own initiative to support Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in the locality at the Expo. Councillor Bill Bendyshe-Brown, Chairman of Wycombe District Council, will open the Expo and launch his own initiative to support Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in the locality. He said: “I am delighted to be joining the Federation of Small Businesses in helping to promote the business community across the District. It is a little known fact that 26 per cent of our working population is employed by micro businesses [who employ 10 people or less] which make up over 90 per cent of all businesses within the District. Our start-up businesses are growing at a great rate and I want to support the whole community by helping all these micro businesses to connect with each other and grow.” |
The Bucks Free Press have committed to a 20 week advertising and publicity campaign leading up to the event. The first of which started on Friday 12th June in the Business Monthly section of the main Bucks Free Press publication. There are also plans to include a dedicated four page cover, the week before the 28th October that will include further event detail. |
Business Advisors representing the four major banks located within the town of High Wycombe have also been approached. Many have welcomed the idea of promoting the event to their existing commercial customers, based within the Wycombe District. Those banks include Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Natwest and HSBC. Other organisations promoting the event include the WISER group and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). |
Steve Baker, MP for High Wycombe
"The Wycombe Business Expo taking place at Cressex Community School on Thursday 28th October could not be more timely and relevant. I am passionate about encouraging the entrepreneurship that lies at the heart of small business. We are in challenging times and need to inspire local entrepreneurs to continue to develop new products & services whilst at the same time expanding the existing marketplace. |
I am delighted to support the Expo as an excellent example of local entrepreneurs working together to create a must-attend event in the District. The Breakfast Event will provide an invaluable opportunity for me to discuss the really important local issues facing our business community. I am looking forward to meeting as many local entrepreneurs as possible." |
Getting The Most Out Of The Wycombe Business Expo
The organisers are delighted that Mary Flavelle, the Thames Valley (and beyond!) Queen of Networking is supporting the Expo. “Mary has truly unique and special talent in being able to weave magic in any room of people she steps into. Her strength of character and no nonsense delivery is very valuable to the development of people and their businesses. Mary has the ability to see business, she can spot gold. If you’re serous about networking and want to learn to impact an audience with a one minute presentation about your business or services contact Mary, she will get you out there!" |
Mary will lead the Exhibitor Briefing Session on Wednesday 27th October at Cressex Community School using her usual brand of wit and enthusiasm to put everyone at their ease. She will share her top networking tips and really help you to get the most out of the event: whether it is your first or 100th! Her passion for supporting business in the Thames Valley (and indeed internationally) knows no bounds. |
Basepoint Supports Wycombe Business Expo
As a business centre operator specialising in providing office space for small, medium and start-up companies, understanding the needs of business entrepreneurs and supporting the business community is something at the heart of the Basepoint organisation. As such, Basepoint High Wycombe is keen to support the Wycombe Business Expo and will be exhibiting, as well as actively promoting it in the months ahead. |
“Basepoint really is totally focused on helping businesses to grow – we understand the challenges they face, particularly during these incredibly challenging times. Our licensee’s success is our success and we are constantly looking at ways to help. For example, our weekly networking mornings where our tenants meet over a cup of coffee, provides an ideal opportunity to get to know and help each other.” |