Bournemouth and Poole College Participates in the Dorset Chamber Business Festival Expo 2024

This week saw the realisation of the Dorset Business Festival 2024, and as a Festival Partner, we were thrilled to contribute to conversations under the theme ‘Business as a Force for Good’, highlighting the pivotal role of businesses in making a positive impact upon society. 

The Dorset Chamber Expo this year launched on 23^rd April with a drinks and canape reception, whereby categories were defined and launched, including: Best New Business Award , Best Place to Work Award , Community Partnership Award , Customer Experience Award , Environmental Impact Award  and the Future Leader Award.  Also, the Export Business Award , Scaleup Award , Social Impact Award and finally, the Digital and Technology Award.  Bournemouth and Poole College sponsored the Best New Business Award. 

The festival opened with a busy networking breakfast, with guest speaker Lord Matthew Elliott from Jobs Foundation, at the Rick Stein restaurant in Sandbanks, Poole, on Monday 30^th September. Two guests, including Bournemouth and Poole College Principal, Phil Sayles, were in attendance. Guests were treated to an enticing and beautifully presented Eggs Benedict dish. 

On 2^nd October, we exhibited at the Dorset Business Festival Expo at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth, a B2B Expo with over 70 exhibitors, preluding the Festival Conference on 9^th October.

Hosted by Declan Curry, Broadcaster & Journalist, there were high-profile keynote speakers and four-panel discussions were held over the day on key issues underpinning the concurrent theme. Gen Z, X, and Alpha, attendees were asked to stand up and then picked at random to answer ‘What are you looking for from a company when you go for a job?’ and answers included ‘sustainability’, ‘culture’, ‘opportunities’ and ‘flexibility’. 

Four panels, made up of experts, leaders and influencers in their specialist fields shared their experience and insights, as well as spotlight sessions. Phil Sayles, Principal of Bournemouth and Poole College, was also a part of the panel, exploring the pivotal role of younger generations in shaping the future of business and society

Also in attendance were a selection of our new T Level Business students, who thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to open their eyes further to the world of business and contributed to debates from the floor. 

The grand finale of the festival was held on 10^th October in the Hilton Hotel, where attendees celebrated the achievements of the 30 finalists across ten categories and announced the winners.