FIRMS are being urged to take part in a 'first-of-its-kind' three-day festival to showcase the “rich and varied range of businesses” across Dorset.

The Dorset Business Festival will include a conference, exhibition and awards when held from October 10 to 12 at the Hilton Hotel in Bournemouth.

Dorset Council is one of the festival partners along with Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth & Poole College, the Dolphin in Poole and YMCA Bournemouth. Lester Aldridge Solicitors is the premier festival partner.

Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “Excitement is building towards our first business festival. There are so many brilliant businesses across the whole of Dorset with some incredible success stories and inspirational achievements.

“The business festival is an opportunity for them to shine and to help us showcase the rich and varied range of businesses from many different sectors and parts of Dorset.

“There are different ways to get involved, from visiting or taking part in the business exhibition and conference to entering or attending the awards.

“I would encourage everyone to get behind this event and help celebrate the exceptional business community we have in the county.”

The conference will have a ‘future of business’ focus with four main themes. These are technology, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), as well as place and people.

Opened by keynote speaker David Smith, economics editor of The Sunday Times, it will be hosted by presenter and former BBC Breakfast business correspondent Declan Curry.

The festival awards will be free to enter in ten categories and open to all businesses in the county whether chamber members or not.

Bookings and awards entries for the event have now opened.

Details of the celebration of business were revealed at a recent event held by Dorset Chamber and Dorset Council at Kingston Maurward College.

While based in Bournemouth, the festival is open to all businesses from across Dorset.

Dorset Chamber was founded in 1949, and the festival is the first of its kind for the organisation.

Visit dorsetchamber.co.uk for more information.