THE SHROPSHIRE BUSINESS CONVERSATION

Shropshire Business Festival, the county’s biggest B2B event, is taking place on March 5th, 2026, at Telford International Centre.

Tickets have been released for a post-festival dinner. ‘Shropshire Business Conversation’ will be a dinner event that marks Shropshire Business Magazine’s 10th anniversary with talks from some of its top business leader cover stars.

Beth Heath, director of Shropshire Festivals, said:“Following our popular Business Festival, ticket holders will be invited to head upstairs at Telford International Centre for a sit-down dinner, where you will be seated with iconic cover stars of Shropshire Business Magazine from the last decade.

“They will lead panel discussions reflecting on the local business community and their own journeys to success. We promise you conversations that stick with you long after the evening ends.”

The evening dinner is a ticketed event. The lineup for Shropshire Business Conversation includes:

• Charlie Blakemore, CEO of Intercity Technology, sharing four decades of leadership across defence, aerospace and IT, offering hard-won insight into guiding organisations through industry upheaval
• Deborah Mitchell, founder of Heaven Skincare, charting her journey from kitchen experiments to Royal Warrant holder with a globally loved luxury organic skincare brand
• Walter Gleeson: A co-founder of Music Magpie, the international platform for refurbished electronics and second‑hand media which became one of eBay’s most successful sellers.
• Sarah Holmes, Managing Director of Merrythought, who shows how to balance heritage and innovation while leading one of Britain’s most cherished brands into its next chapter
• Will Stratton-Morris, former CEO of Caffè Nero and now Group Chief Business Development Officer, bringing a global perspective on growth from the forefront of the hospitality sector.
• Steven Owen, a strong advocate of apprenticeships who led a management buyout of Pave Aways in 2011, and won the John Clayton Award for his outstanding contribution to the Shropshire business community. 

Carl Jones, editor and director of Shropshire Business who will be conducting the Q&A sessions, said: “We’re really grateful to the Shropshire Festivals team for their enthusiasm in helping us to mark our 10th anniversary this year.

“It’s going to be a brilliant way to round off the Shropshire Business Festival day – a fantastic opportunity to gain access to some of the most entrepreneurial, knowledgeable and successful business people in our area.”

The main festival is a free one-day networking event that brings together business leaders and emerging talent from across the county. A new speed networking area is being introduced for 2026.

Shropshire Business Festival is taking place on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, from 1pm – 6pm at Telford International Centre, and Shropshire Business Conversation will take place upstairs at the same venue, from 6pm.

Secure your free ticket to the festival, purchase a Shropshire Business Conversation ticket, or apply for a stand at www.shropshirebusinessfestival.co.uk.

Tickets to the Shropshire Business Conversation are £53.99 including a two-course dinner.