A brand new feature of Durham Oktoberfest aims to give small businesses and new starts the chance to exhibit. The criteria is that the companies should: • Be based in County Durham • Employ less than 10 people • Have proven links to the manufacturing and engineering sectors • Be actively looking to grow and can attend workshops and one-to-one sessions between now and October 19th Peterlee-based LEC Communications and Design is delivering the Incubator Zone project after a competitive tender process through Durham County Council.
David Land, Chairman of the County Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Network (CDEMN), which organises Oktoberfest, said: “We’re always looking to strengthen our offering to businesses and make our event appealing to them regardless of their size. “Reviewing feedback and exhibitor statistics from the last few years, it was evident we could be doing more to appeal to those firms that are relatively new start ups, who perhaps want to raise their profile and meet potential new clients. “We are aware that our existing offer could be quite daunting to businesses that fall into that category, so we have created an Incubator Zone within the main hall which is specifically designed for those firms that have never exhibited at Oktoberfest before.”
