Free business networking expo with live demos, samples and offers from hundreds of local businesses, plus family-friendly entertainment, at the Preston Guild Hall.
The Lancashire Business Expo returns to Preston Guild Hall on Friday 16 April 2027, from 9am to 3pm, with last admission at 2:30pm. It's run by Shout Network, who put on a series of B2B exhibitions across the North West, including dates in Liverpool, Bolton and Carlisle. This one marks the expo's return to the Guild Hall after four years away — the venue where Shout say it all started — and Preston City Council has welcomed it back.
The day draws hundreds of local businesses, from first-time start-ups to established firms, alongside public-sector teams, charities and professionals. There are live demos, samples and offers running throughout, and it's not just for the networking side of things: there's family-friendly entertainment too, with mini golf, balloon artists and games. It's a bit of a mix, so if you're bringing the kids along, they've got something to do while you're working the room.
2027 is also a bit of a milestone for the organisers: it's the tenth anniversary of Shout's Apprenticeship and Careers Expo. Between that and the return to the Guild Hall, there's a fair bit of history tied up in this edition.
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Entry is free for visitors, though you'll need to register via Eventbrite first. If you want to get in early, there's a VIP Visitor Pass for £20 + VAT, which gets you in from 8am with breakfast, lunch and drinks in the Exhibition Lounge. The main event runs from 9am to 3pm at The Preston Guild Hall, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HT.
