'Great buzz' at the Apex, in Bury St Edmunds, for record-breaking MENTA Business Show

A buzzing atmosphere at the 12th MENTA Business Show, in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday, marked the start of the annual West Suffolk Business Festival.

The Apex welcomed hundreds of visitors and exhibitors, with record numbers attending.

For the second year the show welcomed a keynote speaker, with china guru Emma Bridgewater taking the stage to describe growing her business from her kitchen table.

Emma Bridgewater said: “Start-ups are the lifeblood of the economy. Events like this are so important to keep encouraging businesses to grow. It’s something I am committed to.”

Rob Dellow, director of event sponsors Atkins Thomson, said: “Small businesses are what the economy is founded on: without small businesses big businesses don’t get created. Sponsoring this show is part of us supporting the local economy.

“Every year we say the show gets better, but this year it has taken a quantum leap.”

Alex Till, MENTA chief executive, said: “It has been a complete sell-out. We had 1,400 pre-bookings, which is a record.

“Emma Bridgewater was fantastic and gave a real insight into the trials and tribulations of developing a business.

“There’s been a great buzz here since 9am. From our perspective it is the best show we have held so far.”

Exhibitors included The Northgate – with general manager Michael Box saying it was a great opportunity to shout about the business – and Ashtons HR, whose HR business manager Lucy Pakes said it had been a very busy event.

The business festival is running until next week, closing with the Bury Free Press business awards at the Apex on October 11.

- The Bury St Edmunds and Beyond Tourism Fair at the Athenaeum on Thursday, from 5-7pm, is also part of the business festival.

The free event will bring together tourism businesses to showcase what they offer.

Book at www.burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds-and-beyond-tourism-fair