Venturefest West Midlands gives you the chance to meet, collaborate and exchange business ideas with other businesses and investors. The event – supported by Innovate UK – will be held at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on Tuesday 27 June 2017. Entry is free.

Science and emerging technologies

The event theme is science and emerging technologies. You will be able to meet with high-growth entrepreneurs and service providers offering products, services, advice and support.

Venturefest will include keynote speakers and interactive workshop sessions. Innovate UK board member and managing director of Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd, Harry Swan, will speak about supply chain innovation. Representatives from Innovate UK, the Knowledge Transfer Network, the Enterprise Europe Network and Catapults will be there to meet attendees and answer questions.

The programme will also include Pitchfest, featuring the region’s most innovative companies pitching for support in front of a panel of experts.

About the Venturefest Network

Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network launched the Venturefest Network in 2014. Its aim is to strengthen connectivity between innovators, investors and entrepreneurs.

On 20 April 2017, the Department of Health announced the 21 members of the new voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Alliance.

They are:

• Age UK
• Association for Young People’s Health
• British Institute of Learning Disabilities
• Complex Needs Consortium
• Carers UK
• Citizen’s Advice
• Clinks
• Faith Action
• Friends, Families and Travellers
• Homeless Link
• LGBT Foundation
• Maternity Action
• Men’s Health Forum
• Mental Health Partnership Forum
• National Voices
• National Association for Voluntary and Community Action
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations
• National Council for Palliative Care
• Race Equality Foundation
• UK Health Forum
• Win-Win Alliance

The members were selected from over 180 organisations that applied to join.

The alliance aims to make it easier for the voluntary and statutory sectors to work together to:

• improve health and care systems
• address health inequalities
• help people, families and communities to achieve and maintain wellbeing

It also aims to bring the VCSE sector’s voice and expertise into national policy making.

The alliance succeeds the Health and Care Strategic Partner Programme which ended on 31 March 2017.