“There has never been a better time to get fit for fighting back.”

That’s the message from Watford & West Herts Chamber of Commerce chief executive Chris Luff as the town’s business festival gets underway.

The online event runs until Wednesday and is designed to give participants an opportunity to think how the chamber can help them and their company network, innovate and achieve sustainable growth in what are even more challenging times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The festival has been designed to give those involved in business in the area experience of how the Chamber of Commerce operates and to encourage people to join.

The first online session takes place at noon tomorrow when the focus will be the HS2 rail project.

The session will give an overview of what stage the project is at, how procurement and the supply chain works, what employment opportunities there are and how businesses can find out more and get involved.

You can register for sessions via this link

A business bounceback webinar will take place at 10am on Monday in partnership with sponsors Mercer & Hole where financial advice will be on hand to help businesses develop a strategy to try and navigate these challenging times.

With people again being asked to work from home where possible, remote working and this will be the topic of Tuesday’s online session at 10.30am.

The chamber will be holding a one-hour workshop in partnership with members PSG Networks and RingCentral to look at how to communicate more efficiently via messaging, video and phone and how employees and customers can be brought together.

A virtual evening of speakers and agency-focused networking with similar business owners in the digital scene will then take place at 6pm on Tuesday.

The final day of the festival on Wednesday will also have two online sessions, starting with an opportunity to find out more about the Kickstart scheme and apprenticeships.

The Kickstart scheme is a government initiative with £2 billion provided to pay for six-month work placements for 16 to 24-year-olds.

The funding available will cover 100 per cent of the National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, while the apprenticeship programme gives training in the workplace to lead to a recognised qualification.

This event is not only for business, but will also give young people the chance to find out more and and meet employers who have placements available.

The final event of the festival is due to take place online at 4pm with talk from keynote speaker Shirzad Chamine.

The chairman of CTI, the largest coach-training organisation in the world, will be discussing how a better understanding of your mind can result in better business.

Visit this website for full details and to register for a session