A WEEK-long festival will aim to help businesses in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch bounce back from the Covid crisis.

Poole-based Evolve has received a £15,000 grant from BCP Council to deliver the event in partnership with its sister company Inspire.

Evolve founder Warren Munson said: “We’re so excited to receive this grant to fund the BCP Business Festival.

“The last 12-18 months has been tough on businesses and we want to give business leaders not just the opportunity to build their business back up again but also build themselves back up again.

“We want guests to come away from any event they attend having connected with like-minded individuals, learnt something new and feeling upbeat, positive and raring to go back to their business and life.”

New business set up to help entrepreneurs 'Evolve to Succeed'

The BCP Business Festival comes after the 2019 Evolve Business Festival hosted eight events at different venues across Poole and Bournemouth.

More than 130 local companies attended and events ranged from ‘round table’ meetings to a large charity dinner with Eddie Howe as guest speaker.

For 2021, businesses can choose up to 12 free events from breakfast, lunch and dinner events examining topics including change management; understanding leadership and influence and sustainable working; building resilience, diet and lifestyle; and the future of working.

There will be webinars and virtual relaxation classes exploring pre-work yoga, breath work and meditation practice.

'It has been testing': Dorset firms react to year of home working

BCP Business Festival will start in November, subject to finalising venues and speakers, with an entrepreneurs and founders’ evening in Bournemouth.

The event will bring together business leaders from around BCP to hear successful entrepreneurs tell their story.

Warren Munson established Evolve in 2018 to better support business owners and leaders through peer group and one-to-one coaching services.

The Ashley Cross-based business delivers leadership development courses, management and growth coaching programmes and peer networks for SME owner managers.

Evolve will be partnering with Inspire, an independent and award-winning business and tax advisory firm, on the festival.

The two firms have supported more than 500 businesses.

Cllr Philip Broadhead, deputy leader of BCP Council and its cabinet member for economy, said; “Following a competitive application process, we are pleased to award this grant to Evolve.

“This project is just one of many innovative initiatives that our latest package of discretionary business support will now bring to life. It will contribute towards Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s reputation as a place where businesses can continue to flourish and grow.”