A date has already been set for the second Dorset Growth Fest after this month’s inaugural event proved a smash hit.

More than 120 entrepreneurs and business owners across the south came together for the fest which was organised by business support agency, Dorset Growth Hub.

The one-day event took place at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium with the aim of inspiring, supporting and connecting Dorset businesses looking to scale up and take their businesses to the next level.

Attendees heard from top speakers from a range of sectors including Amy Dicketts, Product Manager of Monzo; Kate Peregrine, Dyson’s Global Head of Social Media; Pacific Direct Founder Lara Morgan and Jim Cregan, Co-founder of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee.

Learning all about how businesses achieved business growth themselves, leaders across Dorset shared invaluable information and tips with the audience including Jamie Sergeant (This Is Crowd), Jason Gault (TeamJobs), Claire Burnet (Chococo) and Ross Thornley (Entrepreneur and Business Founder).

In the afternoon, a series of workshops were hosted on a variety of topics including PR, HR, branding, influencer marketing and business mentoring hosted by business experts Sunny Bird PR, The Message Maestro, Insightful FX, Dorset Police, Aspirin Business, New Life Social, Dorset HR Support, You Are The Media, Intergage and The Breathery.

Rich Burn, Digital Manager, Dorset Growth Hub, said: “We were so pleased to see a room full of people from all different business sectors and to hear from such a great line up of inspirational speakers across Dorset and the UK.

“We hope to make Dorset Growth Fest an annual event to continue to celebrate and inspire businesses across the region.”

The mission of Dorset Growth Hub is to support businesses wanting to grow, improve the competitiveness of Dorset businesses and encourage inward investment to the county ultimately increasing employment figures.

Dorset Growth Fest 2019 was held as part of BOMO Festival, which brings together conferences in technology, creativity and entrepreneurship across Bournemouth throughout September and October.

The 2020 Dorset Growth Fest will be held on October 21 next year.