‘festival of innovation’

This Autumn OpenCo, the ‘festival of innovation’ is shaping up to be the most ambitious business event of the year. Taking place nationwide across a number of cities and with over 100 businesses involved, OpenCo promises to provide a host of opportunities to learn and discover what goes on behind the curtain of business and industry.

The event will be simultaneously executed across the UK including Liverpool, and organisers hope to attract much interest from local and aspiring businesses. This year, nine Liverpool businesses have signed up to provide their own valuable insights and experiences, including Draw and Code, Uniform, Peel, Starship, Shop Direct and Sentric. Each company will be speaking to delegates and visitors during a free 45-minute session with the goal of imparting hints and tips to young entrepreneurs and business owners.

The event in Liverpool will take place on the 2nd October. Other cities taking part include Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, London, Manchester and Sheffield, ensuring that there will be an opportunity to take part in this unique festival regardless of location.

Backed by Tech City UK, Liverpool Vision’s creative and digital business support team ACME is the host organisation for Liverpool’s OpenCo event. Liverpool Vision’s head of creative and digital Kevin McManus, who represents Liverpool at the Tech City UK Cluster Alliance, said:

“As a city we need to communicate how our companies are becoming leaders in their field.”  McManus went on to say

“These cool companies are opening their doors to unveil how they are using tech to advance their business, our experiences and in many cases our lives. In the coming days we will be releasing an open invitation for people to attend Liverpool’s OpenCo in person but everyone can get involved through the event’s digital media platforms.”

This sense of inclusivity which McManus promotes is evidenced in relaxed atmosphere of the event, with some equating a ‘music festival vibe’. The event is organised into 1-hour segments stretched over just one day, so there will be much to do and see for attendees who want to make the most of the opportunity.

OpenCo’s reach also extends to overseas with New York, Detroit, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Boulder, Los Angeles and Amsterdam also taking part in the last years with an impressive attendance of more than 10,000 people, who flocked to see and hear from some of the world’s business leaders.

OpenCo UK Co-Founder & IPG Mediabrands Global Strategy Officer Hamish Kinniburgh said:

‘From new start-ups or a well-established global firms, OpenCo offers the opportunity to experience innovation up close and personal in its native habitat, giving people the opportunity to hear from some of the most talented business minds out there and see some of the city’s most dynamic work environments.”

Words: Daniel Pearce

Source: Liverpool Echo

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