Nearly 500 exhibitors and delegates visited South London's biggest free, one-day expo - the new format We Mean Business Pop Up Expo in Croydon.
The Business Xchange at Marco Polo House close to East Croydon Station hosted the exhibition and networking event for Croydon's fast-growing business community on Tuesday, 3rd October. Coast to Capital Growth Hub sponsored a busy seminar, one of four on the day, on Access to Finance. They also ran free, expert-led, one-to-one business advice clinics.
The WMB Pop Up Expo, which was opened by Councillor Mark Watson, Cabinet Member for Economy and Jobs, London Borough of Croydon, hosted over 50 exhibitor companies across three floors. Gatwick Airport sponsored a series of busy speed-networking sessions throughout the day. While seminars on Women in Business with women business leaders; How to Source Free Social Media Tools with My Outspace; and Tech City success story Connected Space, attracted good turnout of delegates.
The WMB Pop Up Expo was aimed at all levels of business, from pre-starts to start-ups, and SMEs to large, high growth companies.
Mark Waterstone, CEO of Rosepride Properties and founder of the Expo venue, The Business Xchange Hub, said:
"The WMB Pop Up was a great success. It was an amazing business opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors who turned out in force to network and make business connections. They also got a chance to see our new facility, The Business Xchange Hub, which is the ideal base for start-ups, entrepreneurs and growing businesses seeking central, prestigious and competitively-priced office space."
Kerry Kyriacou, Partnership Manager with sponsors Coast to Capital Growth Hub said:
"We were delighted to again support the WMB Expo - we spoke to many companies in the local area on the day who seem to have done a lot of business. The Access to Finance seminar was excellent, with some very good speakers. It was very well organised and attended - I hope each delegate left the seminar with a golden nugget of good advice."
Sam Johns, Sales Manager, with successful Croydon tech company, Estate Apps said:
"The seminars were really interesting and useful and the quality of speakers was excellent, especially at the Access to Finance,"
Exhibitor Anne O'Hara, Marketing and Social Media Officer with Jace Training, said:
"It's gone really well for us today - we have been very, very busy and have spoken to a lot of employers and individuals looking to do training. We attend the Expo every year and I think the pop up venue has worked really well, with a good layout which encouraged businesses to network."
Councillor Mark Watson, Cabinet Member for Economy and Jobs, London Borough of Croydon said:
"I've been very impressed with what I have seen at the Expo. It's a beautiful space and a very convenient for East Croydon Station. There's a lot of energy in the exhibition areas, which was very, very positive. We have a lot of small businesses in Croydon already doing a lot of good things. They can learn from each other, purchase from each other and support each other. So events like this are really important because these personal connections are really what makes businesses work."
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