ONE of the regions biggest business events will return to Swindon in July.

The South West Business Expo will be held at the Steam Museum on July 4.

Organisers say the event will feature some top speakers, six workshops and 120 exhibitors. 900 business leaders are expected to attend the exhibition, now in its seventh year.

They claim that last year one business owner managed to make a connection at the expo that subsequently led to a £50,000 contract.

In 2018, speakers included Jackie Chappel, the first female chief executive of British Rail, and then 19-year-old Ben Towers, who made his first million after selling the website company he had established aged just 11.

Ms Chappel, once based at Swindon’s Weston Tower as British Rail chief, used her talk to speak up for gender equality in industry: “You could speak to a lot of female leaders and when you speak to them, one of the biggest hold backs they have is themselves. They should know their worth, and if they feel they can do the job as well as a man they should get paid the same as a man. You have to fight for equal pay.”

The South West Expo will be held at the Steam Museum on Thursday, July 4, 10am to 3pm. Tickets are free.

For more, visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-south-west-expo-swindon-the-steam-musuem-tickets-54424630535.