The Shaping the Future Business Festival is back for its second edition, taking place from 16–20 March 2026 across Newcastle-under-Lyme. Following the success of last year’s launch, the festival will return with bigger venues, new themes, and even more opportunities for businesses to connect, collaborate, and grow.
Over five days, the festival will bring together entrepreneurs, established firms, educators, and creative leaders for a programme of workshops, talks, and networking sessions. Events will be hosted in multiple venues across the town, including Keele University, St Giles Church, King Street Studios, Keele in Town and several other locations, turning Newcastle-under-Lyme into a hub of enterprise and innovation.
This year’s programme will explore key themes such as employment and entrepreneurship, women in business, digital innovation, and creative collaboration. Attendees will be able to join panel discussions, practical workshops, and drop-in advice clinics designed to support businesses at every stage of their journey.
Pete Herbert, Director of PH Production Services, the team delivering the festival said, “Shaping the Future is all about creating momentum, opening up conversations, and showcasing the best of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s business community. The second festival will be an even stronger platform for local businesses to learn and connect.”
As well as its packed programme, the festival will provide plenty of informal networking opportunities, helping delegates make lasting connections. Thanks to the support of partners including Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, We Are Staffordshire and the borough council the festival will remain free to attend, ensuring accessibility for all.
Organisers promise that the 2026 edition will not only celebrate the strengths of the local business community but also spark fresh collaborations and new ideas that continue long after the festival ends.
Geoff Beadle from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council explained, “We want this festival to become a fixture in Newcastle-under-Lyme’s calendar. With the programme we’re building for March 2026, we’re confident it will be bigger, bolder, and even more inspiring than before.”