Collaboration takes centre stage at annual business expo

Supporters of this year’s Love Business Expo 2026 – hosted by EMA Training – have been reflecting on the success of the event.

Held earlier this month at Holywell Park Conference Centre, in Loughborough, the event, which was backed by Marketing Derby, featured networking, talks from guest speakers and panel discussions around the theme of shared insight.

Among the highlights was a panel discussion made up of King’s Awards winners from the region, chaired by Richard Blackmore, director of policy and insight at East Midlands Chamber, the event’s headline sponsor.

He said: “It’s essential that business shouts about awards and achievements – the louder the better – as doing so not only places what they do on a pedestal but shines the spotlight right across the East Midlands for the region’s innovation, leading approach to sustainability, technology and forward thinking.

“The King’s Awards showcase the very best examples of that and we’re so fortunate in the East Midlands that so many recipients in 2025, once again, were based in this region.”

Cosy Direct chief executive Peter Ellse won a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2025 and was part of a panel discussion, looking at what the recognition means.

He said: “A King’s Award validates you – you can measure yourself against the very best as it is one of the biggest awards in the country.

“It’s the highest-level award, you get to meet the King, and it gives lots of profile, which is especially good if you export as people love to hear about Britain and the Royal Family.”

Gemma Orton, strategic partnerships and marketing director at EMA Training,  said: “Love Business Expo is an opportunity to bring together our region and at a time when many businesses have been struggling, collaboration is good.

“It’s about getting everybody together and the feeling of support among businesses.

“Over 700 delegates registered and over 200 as VIPs. The East Midlands is a resilient bunch of businesses. The economy has been hit with many challenges, but we have bounce back ability, we’re determined as a region and that gets easier when you collaborate and work together.”