BUSINESSES from across Wiltshire flocked to Trowbridge Civic Centre at the weekend for a business expo organised by Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce and Trowbridge Town Team.

The 2015 Business Expo, which was held in conjunction with the Medieval Play Day in the Town Park, aimed to showcase the range of businesses that are active across the county, providing local firms with the opportunity to promote their companies and network.

Sponsored by apetito, Hitachi Commercial Vehicle Solutions, Office Evolution and media partner Newsquest, the two-day event last Friday and Saturday included over 40 different local firms.

Guest speakers included Dragons’ Den star Jordan Daykin, Alison Edgar, of Sales Coaching Solutions, CEO of apetito UK and Canada Paul Freeston and Robert Craven, founder of the Director Centre.

Trowbridge Town Team chairman David Baker said: “It was completely beyond our expectations. It was absolutely brilliant and it was a great way to showcase local businesses across Wiltshire.

“The feedback has been extremely positive and we will be sending out a small questionnaire to all those who attended to find out more about what they thought. A lot of businesses have already asked us to do it again next year.

“We had sold out a few weeks before the event and the businesses involved really seemed to value it. It was great to highlight lots of local businesses and it demonstrates that Trowbridge is open for business.”

Stands in the Main Hall provided advice and knowledge on operational elements, including marketing, sales, security, finance, IT, legal, HR and recruitment, corporate social responsibility and learning development.

The event was opened by the Mayor of Trowbridge, Jon Lawes of Hitachi Commercial Vehicle Solutions and the President of the Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce Emma Roberts.

Ian Jones, who was at the expo promoting his business Wiltshire Business Energy Scheme, said: “We've made some great contacts and have potential business to follow up on.

“What made the event very valuable for us and many others too was the large amount of media coverage. The value of being part of an event promoted in the paper, local radio and the filming was worth so much more than the stand fee.

“I was discussing with my colleagues that the level of exposure we have had by attending the event was probably 20 times, if not more, in value than we paid.”