Burnley Business Week returns later this month with a chance to pick up new skills, ideas and advice for free, whether you run a business in the town or work for one.
This year's Business Week runs from 21st to 25th September and includes 14 free workshops at venues across Burnley. The sessions cover everyday topics for businesses and their employees.
The mix is broad, ranging from better use of AI, managing people and understanding business finance to marketing, employment law, workplace wellbeing and cyber security. Other bookable sessions cover starting a business, improving manufacturing productivity, creating a more inclusive workplace, networking, LinkedIn, Canva, social media and running successful events.
Workshops are delivered by businesses, organisations and specialists from Burnley and further afield, giving local firms access to knowledge and training that would usually cost money. People do not have to attend the whole week. They can simply book the sessions most useful to them or their role.
Councillor Lubna Khan, Burnley Council Executive Member for Development & Growth said:
“There’s a lot on offer this year and I’d really encourage people to have a look at the programme and see what could be useful to them.
“Training and specialist advice can be a real investment for a business, particularly for smaller companies, so to have all of these sessions available free of charge is a great opportunity.
“And Business Week isn’t only for business owners. If you work for a business in Burnley and there’s a workshop that could help you in your job, give you a new skill or help you take an idea back to your workplace, it’s for you too.
“There are still places available across the week, so there’s plenty of time to get involved, but I’d encourage people to book now.”
One session still open for bookings is How to run a successful event: From Idea to Impact, looking at what goes into planning an event that works, from the initial idea to making an impact on the day.
Places are also available on two workshops on the final day of Business Week. Workplace Wellbeing: Building Resilience, Preventing Burnout and Supporting Your People will cover practical ways to support wellbeing at work, build resilience and help prevent burnout, an issue relevant to businesses and teams of all sizes. The event will include an exhibition showcasing organisations from across the area that can support employee wellbeing, plus a chance to network and make new connections. Cyber Security in Action: Protect Your Burnley Business will help businesses learn about the cyber threats they face and how to better protect their organisation.
Elsewhere in the week, workshops include Turn Time into Profit with AI, Leading People Well: Building Confident and Effective Managers, Start your own business with Carole Garrett BEM, Managing Finance for Start-ups, Smarter Manufacturing: Using AI to Improve Productivity and Performance, Creating an Inclusive Workplace: Practical Steps for Every Business, Co-work & Connect, Raise your profile: LinkedIn for Business Growth, Canva for Business: Create your own professional marketing materials, Managing Performance in a Changing Employment Law Landscape and How to turn social media into sales.
Burnley Business Week runs from Monday 21st to Friday 25th September at venues across the borough. All workshops are free to attend, but places must be booked in advance.
To see the full programme and book, visit www.burnley.co.uk/business-week.
Post expires at 1:38pm on Tuesday December 15th, 2026.
