Video: Stratford-on-Avon District Council / Chin Badger Media
Stratford Business Conference 2026
Driving growth and ambition across the District
Event held: Tuesday 3 February 2026, 9am - 12noon, Crowne Plaza, Stratford-upon-Avon
Supporting local businesses and creating the right conditions for sustainable growth remain central to Stratford-on-Avon's economic ambitions.
On 3 February 2026, around 200 SMEs attended the Stratford Business Conference, organised by Stratford-on-Avon District Council with the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub at the Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon. The event was hosted by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce President Sandra Godley OBE.
Local business leaders from Yelo Enterprises, GTI Systems and Sooper Books shared their personal journeys and practical advice on business growth, supply chains and partnership-building. Cllr George Cowcher and John Careford highlighted the Council's commitment to supporting SMEs, alongside presentations from the British Business Bank on funding options and Warwickshire Skills Hub on workforce development. (See below for video recording of each session.)
Rob Harrison (Federation of Small Businesses) and Corin Crane (Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce) also joined the final Q&A panel.
The morning included breakfast, networking opportunities, and an exhibition of 21 local businesses and support organisations.
Feedback has been extremely positive, and the Council plans further events for the business community. To learn more about available business support and funding, please visit our Business Support & Advice page.
- Press Release: Supporting business at the heart of Stratford-on-Avon's economic ambitions
- Conference Brochure & Programme
- See below for recordings of each individual speaker session (videos: Stratford-on-Avon DC/Chin Badger Media).
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Video 1 Conference Introduction (Sandra Godley) & Q&A Session with GTI Systems (Will Grocott, Eve Baker) |
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Video 2 SDC Commitment to Business (Cllr George Cowcher) Watch video on our YouTube channel here (7.5mins) |
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Video 3 SDC Support for Businesses (John Careford) |
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Video 4 Finance & Investment from British Business Bank (Tracy Sherratt) |
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Video 5 Q&A Session with Sooper Books (Simon Hood and Charlene Mitchell-Hood) |
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Video 6 Growth & Skills for Warwickshire (William Tse) |
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Video 7 Q&A Session with Yelo Enterprises (Doug King) |
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Video 8 Q&A Panel Discussion (Cllr George Cowcher, William Tse, Tracy Sherratt, Corin Crane, Rob Harrison, Sandra Godley) Watch video on our YouTube channel here (19.5mins) |
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Page last updated on 26/05/2026