The steering group behind the popular event say they want to recreate successes from this year’s programme
Organisers of Humber Business Week have confirmed dates for next year’s event with several high profile parts of the programme already booked. Humber Business Week 2026 will start on Monday, June 1 with The Business Day – a repeat of this year’s speaker and networking finale – due to take place at Bridlington Spa.
The diary will also include an economic business breakfast in Grimsby, hosted by Forrester Boyd, Bridge McFarland, Systematic and the Grimsby Institute. Mark Lonsdale, general manager at Bridlington Spa and producer of The Business Day, said he expects to be able to make an announcement in October or November about the main speaker, who will be following in the footsteps of Piers Morgan from 2025 and Abba star Björn Ulvaeus in 2024.
Mr Lonsdale added: “We were back in touch with our agency contacts as soon as Biz Week finished this year to talk about ideas for speakers for 2026 and we’re making good progress with that. We are also in discussion with our colleagues on the Humber Business Week steering group about how we promote what we are all doing. Although The Business Day is a stand-alone event it is the crescendo to Humber Business Week and we will be working more closely together to support each other.”
Investment manager and business commentator Justin Urquhart Stewart will return to the Business Week to address leaders from both sides of the Humber over a breakfast event. His appearance was confirmed by Alison Mitchell, a steering group member from chartered accountancy business Forrester Boyd in Grimsby.
Ms Mitchell, who has led the drive to increase involvement on the south bank, added: “Humber Business Week has been a successful celebration of business success across the Humber for many years and raising the profile of the event and getting more businesses on the south bank of the Humber involved is a key driver for me. We now have a south bank sub group to channel ideas for getting more businesses involved. This year has seen the start of that and I hope to see more businesses hosting and attending events next year as we aim to support, educate, upskill and inform.”
Pat Coyle, chair of Humber Business Week, said the organisers will look to repeat successes from this year’s event and bring in new elements to attract wider audiences. She said: “Humber Business Week continues to go from strength to strength and we are working hard to continue that by making it easy for people to connect and communicate with us.
“It is fantastic that we already have some of our major events confirmed with The Business Day and the economic business breakfast. We are also in discussions with Future Humber about their plans for the annual curtain-raiser event and we’re exploring ideas for the Humber Business Week lunch, which was at capacity this year for the return to the region of Phil Batty, CEO of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and the former Director of Public Engagement for Hull’s UK City of Culture programme.
“Overall we delivered more than 50 events and we expect to increase that number, not least with more activities on the south bank. We are well placed to add to our continued support for event holders with our steering group meetings booked all the way through to Biz Week itself and our ‘get ready’ advice sessions on the north bank and the south bank, which will also have their own programme launches.
“We are also exploring the opportunities for other events throughout the year which can add value for businesses, help to build networks and create sustainability and awareness throughout the year.”
Figures from the 2025 Humber Business Week – which was launched by actor Stephen Tompkinson – show an increase of more than 36% in LinkedIn followers and a nearly 12% increase in reactions to posts by the event, as well as a 9% increase in impressions.
Ms Coyle added: “There are businesses and jobs which exist now that weren’t around when Biz Week started. Today’s workplace presents challenges and opportunities that didn’t exist 22 years ago — making relevance more important than ever for both employers and employees. They include the psychological side of employee wellbeing and diversity, internal marketing and the employer brand proposition. The business landscape is much more challenging now, particularly with recruitment and retention of staff.
“There’s also social mobility and value, plus ESG to consider. There are so many innovations and trends which have become relevant so it’s important to cover a wide range of topics throughout the week. We are constantly asking for feedback and looking to engage with stakeholders because Humber Business Week is a week for all businesses and organisations in the Humber. It’s inclusive and for everybody.”