Ealing's business community comes together again

Businesses from across Ealing and west London will have an opportunity to meet, make connections and explore new opportunities when the Ealing Festival of Business returns next month.

Organised by West London Chambers of Commerce, the festival takes place at the University of West London's Weston Hall on St Mary's Road, Ealing, on Thursday 15 October 2026.

The main exhibition runs from 9.30am until 3pm and is expected to feature around 40 stands showcasing local businesses, products and services.

The event is designed to bring together businesses and entrepreneurs alongside investors, educators and public-sector organisations, creating a substantial meeting point for Ealing's business community.

Deputy Mayor of London to headline

One of this year's biggest additions is keynote speaker Howard Dawber OBE, London's Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth.

Dawber is also Chair of London & Partners and has held the Deputy Mayor role since December 2023. His responsibilities include supporting London's businesses and strengthening the capital's position as a destination for investment.

His appearance gives local entrepreneurs an opportunity to hear directly from one of the figures involved in London's wider economic and business-growth strategy.

Building on a record year

The festival has been growing.

According to organisers, the 2025 event attracted a record 400 visitors, compared with 245 in 2024. The ambition is for the Ealing Festival of Business 2026 to be the biggest edition yet.

That growth is particularly interesting for Ealing because the festival isn't simply aimed at large established companies.

Small businesses, independent operators, entrepreneurs and professionals can use the event to meet potential customers and suppliers, develop partnerships and make connections with organisations operating elsewhere in west London.

For exhibitors, meanwhile, the festival offers a concentrated local audience in which to showcase their products and services.

University of West London hosts the festival

The location is also significant.

University of West London has become increasingly involved in Ealing's wider business ecosystem as well as its traditional role in education.

Holding the festival at its Ealing campus brings businesses, entrepreneurs, professionals and students into the same environment — creating opportunities for connections between education and the local economy.

The university has described the festival as one of west London's biggest business events, with networking, speakers and opportunities forming the heart of the day.

This year's event is sponsored by iFAST Global Bank, Barratt West London and the University of West London.

More than just networking

Business festivals can sometimes become little more than rooms full of business cards. The Ealing event is attempting to offer something broader.

Alongside the exhibition stands and networking opportunities, the programme is intended to connect people from different parts of Ealing's economy — from professional services and creative industries to hospitality and other local sectors.

For a borough containing thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, that cross-sector element could be particularly useful.

It also provides businesses that normally operate primarily within one of Ealing's seven towns with an opportunity to develop relationships across the wider borough and west London.

A growing platform for Ealing businesses

The increasing attendance at the festival reflects something Ealing Spotlight regularly encounters when covering the local economy: there is a substantial business community operating across Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall, but businesses don't always have many opportunities to meet one another.

The Ealing Festival of Business provides one such opportunity.

With attendance having risen considerably last year and a senior London business figure headlining the 2026 programme, this year's festival could further establish itself as an important date in Ealing's business calendar.

At a Glance

• What: Ealing Festival of Business 2026
• When: Thursday 15 October 2026
• Main event: 9.30am–3pm
• Where: Weston Hall, University of West London, St Mary's Road, Ealing W5 5RF
• Organiser: West London Chambers of Commerce
• Keynote speaker: Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth
• Exhibition: Around 40 local business, product and service stands
• Previous attendance: 400 visitors in 2025, up from 245 in 2024
• Audience: Businesses, entrepreneurs, professionals, investors, educators and organisations from Ealing and west London.

Ealing Festival of Business 2026 – event information and registration