York Business Festival hailed a resounding success and set to return in 2025  

York St John University is celebrating the success of the inaugural York Business Festival, a week of events to support, connect and celebrate York’s business community. The festival was hosted by the University’s York Business School in partnership with York Press, and supported by City of York Council, York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, Green Economy and the Federation of Small Businesses. It delivered an impressive lineup of talks, workshops, and networking opportunities.  

The festival attracted a diverse audience of business leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and community stakeholders, all eager to explore new ideas and foster collaborations. With a focus on showcasing the support York St John University offers to local businesses, the event highlighted the University’s role as a hub of innovation and growth in the region. 

Professor Karen Bryan OBE, Vice Chancellor of York St John University said: “The York Business Festival is a great example of the role universities can play in fostering business growth and success within their regions and beyond.   

“By bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry, universities can help organisations to meet the challenges and opportunities they face by harnessing the talent and skills of students and staff. At York St John this is one of the key ways we aim to support local prosperity, by empowering our region’s businesses and entrepreneurs.” 

A key new part of York Business School’s work with the community is York Business Clinic which launched at the festival’s opening event. The Clinic offers entrepreneurs free advice and innovative solutions to meet business challenges, goals and projects. 

Sarah Czarnecki, Clinic Director said: “York Business Clinic can support your business and help you to answer your key business questions. Backed by the expertise of our talented students, experienced academics and business leaders we provide consultancy services spanning marketing, business planning, HR, and digital strategy. No matter the scale of your business or stage in your journey, we’re here to help you thrive.” 

Throughout the week, attendees enjoyed sessions like ‘Tap Into Our Talent,’ where students and researchers collaborated with local businesses, sharing insights and strategies to drive growth and innovation. 

One of the main highlights was the Women in Business evening, featuring an inspiring interview with Cherie Federico, founder of Aesthetica and York St John alum.  

Cherie spoke about how she created her Aesthetica magazine in York more than 20 years ago, which has now grown into a film festival and creative festival. 

She said: “Speaking at the Women in Business event was an amazing experience. I want to support more women to launch businesses, but we need to make women more visible, and we need a complete culture shift. 

“This means fostering an environment where women entrepreneurs can thrive through access to funding, mentorship and policies that promote gender.  Simultaneously, we must look towards the next generation of talent, creating pathways that inspire young women and girls to envision themselves as leaders, innovators and changemakers. 

“As a city, we must take deliberate steps to set the agenda for supporting women in business, recognising the invaluable contribution to economic growth and innovation.  

“By investing in education, early mentorship programmes, and visible role models, we can cultivate a culture that empowers future leaders. As we do this, we have an opportunity to set a precedent nationally and internationally, demonstrating what it means to be a forward-thinking, inclusive city that champions diversity and innovation as cornerstones of progress.” 

Building on the enthusiasm and success of this year’s festival, York St John University is excited to announce that York Business Festival will return in 2025. The festival promises to be even bigger, continuing to champion the region’s businesses with more engaging sessions, inspirational speakers, and opportunities to connect. 

Dr Brendan Paddison, Associate Professor and Interim Dean of York Business School said: “York Business Festival has been a huge success, with hundreds attending the range of talks, workshops and networking events over the course of the week. It has been a fantastic opportunity to forge connections and highlight the business support that we offer to York and the wider region. 

“York Business School is home to almost a quarter of the students at York St John University and the festival has allowed us to showcase our amazing students and academic talent. We’ve had really positive feedback, particularly regarding the breadth of topics we have covered, which has ranged from digital technologies and AI, through to supporting women in business initiatives.  

“The success of this inaugural festival demonstrates the strength and potential of York’s business community. We’re proud to have created a platform for collaboration and growth, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next year.” 

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_{Image shows Dr Brendan Paddison opening York Business Festival 2024}