IN PICTURES: Peterborough businesses turn out in force for Local View Business Expo

The Local View Business Expo brought city businesses together for a day dedicated to making connections, discovering opportunities and celebrating local business.

The event, which was held at the Holiday Inn Peterborough West, provided businesses with a chance to support local, collaborate, source new suppliers and get inspired, while showcasing the wealth of products, services, skills and expertise

available within the city.

A spokesperson for The Local View Business Expo said: “It was about much more than simply exhibiting.

"It gave businesses the opportunity to step away from their usual working environment, meet new people and have conversations that could lead to new customers, suppliers, partnerships and collaborations.

"Visitors were able to discover local businesses, explore new services, source potential suppliers and find inspiration from the wide range of businesses exhibiting.

"And for exhibitors, the Expo provided an opportunity to promote their business face-to-face, build relationships and raise their profile within the Peterborough business community.

Sara Hemp, director of The Local View, said: “We originally started the expos because we could see the real value in personal connections, this is becoming more and more difficult while us business owners navigate AI.

"I landed my first client 20 years ago visiting a business expo in Peterborough, that client stayed with me for 10 years.

"Artificial Intelligence will speed up our business processes but it will never replace a great human connection.”

Julie Marsh, co-director, said: “There is so much talent, knowledge and expertise within our local business community.

"The Expo gave businesses the opportunity to step away from their usual routine, meet other business owners and see what can happen when we connect, collaborate and support one another.”

She added: “The event demonstrated that local business is about more than simply trading with one another.

"It is about building relationships, sharing knowledge, creating opportunities and supporting the wider business community.

"The Local View Business Expo continues to champion the importance of bringing businesses together and creating spaces where connections can happen naturally.

She added: “For everyone who attended, exhibited, supported or contributed to the event, the message was clear; network, promote, connect, grow.”