The event will feature 99 exhibitors with networking opportunities
About 7,000 people are said to attend Hull Business Expo each year.(Image: The Business Culture Hull and East Yorkshire)
Thousands of businesspeople and entrepreneurs are set to descend on Hull city centre in the coming weeks for Hull Business Expo. Organisers of the annual event, business networking group The Business Culture Hull and East Yorkshire, say this year’s instalment will be the largest yet.
An estimated 7,000 people attend the networking and exhibitions each year, coming from all over Yorkshire. Co-founder Tony Fowler said: “This is the most exhibitors we’ve ever had and we can’t wait for another successful event centred around connection, engagement and support.
“We listened to feedback from businesses and adapted to make sure we’re ticking the right boxes for everyone – so we don’t have speakers, as they can often detract from the stands. It’s more important than ever that the business community works together and supports each other, and this is another way of bringing everyone together.
“We’ve built a fantastic community over the last 10 years and we want people to realise what Hull has to offer from its people, its businesses and its culture.”
Exhibitors who meet at the expo are said to often work together, with the event not limited to one business per sector. This year’s headline sponsors are Hull City Council, John Roe Group, 107FM, the Federation of Sport and Leaflet Delivery UK.
Tony added: “We’re one big support network and a business community of friends. We bring people together from a huge range of sectors. We love the high energy, the support and the sense of community our events create, and we’ve built a system that ensures every visitor sees every stand.
“You usually have to register to go to an expo but we know this creates a barrier and we want everyone to come along while extending that support to the city centre economy and local businesses.”
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of the city council, said: “I’m pleased to support the Hull Business Expo 2026. Hull is a tremendous place to do business and I’m keen to see the council do all it can to support the local business community. We recognise just how important the strength of the local economy is for the residents of Hull and we want to work with it to attract more for the city. Supporting the expo is just one way we can do that.
“We want to see Hull be somewhere local businesses can flourish. It’s hard to find a place where the local business community is as supportive of each other as Hull and that is a credit to those in the city.”
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Hull-based Scott Dixon Inc is a manufacturer of flight cases for the touring music industry, including protective cases for instruments, band equipment, stage lights and more, and will exhibit at the expo for a second consecutive year. Tracy Hutty, the company’s chief financial officer, said: “60% of our products are exported and the expo offers us the chance to tell local people about what we do. There are a lot of great things going on in Hull that people don’t necessarily know about.
“The location at Princes Quay is what makes the expo unique because most events of this kind are in hotels or out of the way. It’s really good for the city and anyone can come.”
This year’s event takes place on the ground floor of the Princes Quay Shopping Centre from 10am on March 25.
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