The highly anticipated Festival of Business is set to return for its fourth year, bringing together businesses from across Essex for a day of networking, collaboration, and celebration. Taking place on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, from 10.00am to 3.00pm at Chelmsford City Racecourse, the flagship event of Essex Chambers of Commerce promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Building on the success of last year’s event, which attracted over 700 attendees, the 2025 Festival of Business will once again highlight Essex’s role as a powerhouse of innovation, enterprise, and opportunity under the theme “Building a Greater Essex.”
The Festival of Business has always been the event to bring the county’s business community together for a day to celebrate and showcase the diverse opportunities available in Essex. This year’s event aims to cultivate collaboration between sectors and industries to strengthen the foundations of the county for future generations.
Event Highlights include
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Business Expo: A dynamic exhibition featuring local businesses and organizations, offering opportunities to discover new products, services, and partnerships.
- Inspiring Speakers: Keynote addresses and panel discussions from industry leaders sharing insights on emerging trends, business growth, and success strategies.
- Best in Business Award: Returning for its second year, this prestigious award will honour outstanding businesses and individuals in innovation, sustainability, and community impact.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to foster collaboration and exchange ideas.
We are proud to partner with Ambitious Essex as the event’s Main Sponsor, reinforcing the commitment to fostering growth and prosperity across the region.
Ambitious Essex is part of Essex County Council, capturing all the council’s business support and engagement activity across the county. With a focus on nurturing economic growth, they aim to build a brighter, fairer future for Essex. Their commitment to empowering business makes them the perfect partner for our flagship event, especially with this year’s theme of Building a Greater Essex.
Denise Rossiter, CEO of Essex Chambers of Commerce, expressed her enthusiasm for this
year’s festival: “The Festival of Business 2025 is set to be our biggest, most dynamic, and impactful event yet, showcasing the strength, resilience, and innovation of Essex’s thriving business community.
“We are thrilled to have Ambitious Essex as our main sponsor. Their dedication to supporting businesses and fostering innovation aligns perfectly with the goals of this year’s Festival of Business. This collaboration will ensure the event, even in its fourth year, continues to be the premier business event in Essex.
“This is a unique opportunity for businesses to connect, collaborate, and grow, helping to drive our county forward as a hub of enterprise and excellence. We look forward to welcoming companies of all sizes to celebrate success and build a greater Essex together.”
Councillor Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, 
Economic Growth and Prosperity, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration saying: “We’re hugely excited to once again be partnering with Essex Chambers of Commerce for their Festival of Business. The event is always a highlight in the Essex business calendar and a fantastic showcase for the dynamic, exciting and thriving business landscape of our county.
“We recognise the importance of collaboration between local government and the business community in promoting economic growth and we are pleased to once again be building upon our close working relationship with the Chambers. This year’s theme, ‘Building a Greater Essex’ is about maximising opportunities to make our county more prosperous, by supporting our businesses to expand, resulting in more quality employment for Essex residents.”
Get Involved:
Bookings are now open for exhibitors and attendees. Visitor entry is FREE, with complimentary parking available at the venue. For more information and to secure your place, visit the official Festival of Business website: festivalofbusiness.co.uk.