Tees Business Showcase & Forum 2026

September 3rd 2026

Businesspeople from across the region can now sign up to attend the inaugural Tees Business Showcase & Forum.

Businesspeople from across the Tees Valley can now sign up to attend the inaugural Tees Business Showcase & Forum, with hundreds of delegates expected to come together for a major new business event at the Riverside Stadium.

Taking place on Tuesday October 20, the Showcase & Forum will combine high-quality business content, practical workshops and extensive networking opportunities with a major expo featuring up to 60 exhibitors across three of the Riverside’s hospitality suites.

And with six major sponsors already on board, more than 40 exhibitors confirmed, a growing line-up of high-profile speakers and keynote announcements coming soon, Tees Business has now officially opened delegate registrations.

The day will feature two separate three-and-a-half-hour programmes, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, with different content across the two sessions.

Both programmes will include:

A keynote opening speech
An expert panel discussion as part of the Tees Business Forum
A choice of specialist workshops
Dedicated networking time within the Showcase expo
The morning and afternoon programmes will feature different keynote speakers, panel discussions and workshops, with full details and timings to be announced as the line-up is confirmed.

Delegates registering now will be kept updated as keynote speakers, panellists and further workshops are revealed.

A new business event for Teesside

The Tees Business Showcase & Forum has been designed to offer something different, combining the networking and business development opportunities of a major expo with the insight and practical value of a business conference.

More than 40 organisations have already signed up to exhibit, while Middlesbrough College, Trusted Business Partner, Sembcorp, The eLearning Group, Fleet Recruitment and The Odd Baron are supporting the inaugural event as sponsors.

Julie Leonard, business development manager for Tees Business, said: “We’re delighted to now open registrations and invite the wider Tees business community to join us at the Riverside on October 20.

“We´ve been overwhelmed by the response from exhibitors and sponsors, but ultimately this event is about bringing the whole business community together.

“We want people to come along, make new connections, hear from some genuinely interesting and inspiring speakers and leave with ideas and knowledge they can put into practice.

“We´ve deliberately created different content across the morning and afternoon rather than simply repeating the same programme twice.

“There’s lots more still to announce, including our keynote speakers and expert panellists, so anyone registering now can look forward to seeing the programme develop over the coming weeks.”

Up to 60 businesses to meet

The growing list of exhibitors reflects the breadth of the Tees Valley economy, with major employers joining SMEs and organisations from sectors including professional services, engineering, technology, education, finance, property, travel and manufacturing.

Among those signed up to exhibit are North East Chamber of Commerce, Lloyds Banking, Muckle, Education Training Collective, Vistech Services, Circle Cloud, Mammoet, Clive Owen, Empath, INDUSTRO, Robson Laidler, Jacksons, Outrank and Atomix Educational Trust.

Also exhibiting are HR Alchemy, Caswells Group, RS Industrial Services, GLC Projects, MyAbsolute, ARB Properties, EMCON, Able Futures, Southern Asset Management, Sugercube, Currys Business, Rounton Coffee, Document Solutions, Sencode and Sign Design and Print Design.

Visitors will also be able to meet representatives from SLRAS, Dawson & Sanderson Corporate Travel, We are UMi, Holiday Inn Express/Station Suites, Teesside Hospice, Telcoss, AM Global & Training, Spear-Heads, Groves Clean & Tidy and Azalea Wealth Management.

Dedicated networking time will be built into the programme, giving delegates the chance to meet exhibitors, reconnect with existing contacts and develop new business relationships.

Practical workshops

Delegates will also have the opportunity to attend specialist workshops, with the first four already confirmed.

Dr Noel Dennis, Atomix Educational Trust

Leading Without a Script: Improvisation, Creativity and Leadership in an Uncertain World

Jo Davies, HR Alchemy

Insider Tips on Making Your Business a Great Place to Work

Andy Taylor, Outrank

Winning Digital Marketing in the Age of AI – Practical, Free & Actionable Marketing Tips You Can Use Today

Tomas Roberton, Circle Cloud

AI Without the Risk: How Business Leaders Can Use AI Safely, Securely and Confidently

The workshops will tackle leadership, workplace culture, digital marketing and the fast-evolving impact of artificial intelligence, with a strong emphasis on practical advice delegates can take back into their own organisations.

Further workshops will be announced, with registered delegates given the opportunity to select their preferred sessions once the programme has been finalised.

Keynote speakers and expert panels

At the heart of the event will be the Tees Business Forum, featuring keynote speakers and expert panel discussions during both the morning and afternoon programmes.

Each will open with a keynote address before moving into an expert panel discussion featuring business leaders and other influential voices.

And with different keynote speakers, panellists and themes planned across the day, there will be plenty of reasons for delegates to spend as much time as possible at the Riverside.

Details of the keynote speakers, panellists and discussion themes will be revealed soon.

Julie added: “We don´t want this to be an event where people simply walk around collecting brochures.

“The Forum and workshop elements are really important because we want people to gain something tangible from the time they spend with us.

“But equally, we know some of the most valuable conversations at business events happen away from the stage, which is why there will be plenty of time to network and explore the Showcase.

“We think the combination of keynote speakers, panel discussions, practical workshops, exhibitors and networking will make this a genuinely valuable addition to the Tees Valley business calendar.”

A packed day at the Riverside

The Showcase expo will open across three rooms of the Riverside Stadium’s hospitality suites from 8.30am, giving delegates the opportunity to network and meet exhibitors before the formal Forum programme begins in the Legends Lounge at 9.30am.

The morning will combine the keynote speech and expert panel discussion with further dedicated Showcase and networking time before delegates have the opportunity to attend a specialist workshop.

Following a lunch break, the afternoon programme will begin at 12.30pm, with a fresh line-up of speakers, discussions, workshops and further opportunities to explore the Showcase and make new connections.

Full timings, keynote speakers, panellists and workshop choices will be announced over the coming weeks.

The inaugural Tees Business Showcase & Forum takes place at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on Tuesday October 20. There is ample free on-site parking and registration is now open.

Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities also remain available, with a limited number of exhibition stands remaining. Contact Julie.leonard@resolutionpublishing.co.uk for more details.

You can book your tickets now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tees-business-showcase-forum-2026-tickets-1999482052644?aff=oddtdtcreator