BBC Presenter Dr Alan Raw to Headline Humber Business Week 2026 Launch Events
The Humber Business Week community is gearing up to welcome award-winning BBC radio presenter, producer, and author Dr Alan Raw as the keynote speaker for its 2026 programme launch events. The former broadcaster and co-founder of BBC Introducing will address critical themes of sustainability, collaboration, and culture, setting the stage for the flagship week in June.
North Bank Launch at University of Hull
Dr Alan Raw will serve as the keynote speaker at the north bank programme launch on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The event is scheduled to take place at the University of Hull Business School from 5pm until 7pm. As a recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull for Sustainability and Creative Practice, Alan will return to the university to inspire attendees.
He will encourage the audience to reflect on the future they envision for the Humber region and their role in shaping it. Drawing on his expertise as a published author, cultural catalyst, and entrepreneur, Alan will present the Humber as a real-world example of industrial transformation and environmental change.
He added, "My talk will be about sustainability, creative practice, and leadership, how the futures we build always begin as ideas, and how businesses and communities can work together to write a future they want to live in."
South Bank Launch with Artistic Backdrop
The following week, on Tuesday, April 28, the south bank programme launch will utilise the spectacular backdrop of Helios – an illuminated artwork of the Sun by renowned artist Luke Jerram at Grimsby Minster. Titled 'The Business of Culture: Under the Sun', this event will highlight culture's role in driving growth, identity, and ambition for organisations.
Delivered as a joint venture between Future Humber, The Culture House, and Humber Business Week, the south bank launch will run from 5pm to 7pm. It aims to showcase how arts and culture stimulate economic growth, reinforce identity, and foster community connections.
Themes and Opportunities
Dr Alan Raw will focus on the key Biz Week themes, encouraging attendees to view climate and environmental change not as abstract challenges but as opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and long-term strategic thinking. He emphasized, "The Humber is a place that has always lived with change. This region is learning in real time how to adapt."
Pat Coyle, chair of Humber Business Week, explained the purpose of the launches: "The programme launch is also a key point in the countdown to Biz Week itself, which kicks off on Monday, June 1 with a packed schedule of events at the MKM Stadium in Hull."
The week continues with an array of speaker events, advice sessions, panel discussions, and networking opportunities before concluding with The Business Day on June 5. Coyle added, "The launch events are also an opportunity for people to set their Biz Week priorities, plan ahead to avoid clashes, and meet some of the people who will be organising, hosting and attending the sessions."
Planning and Participation
New events are being added to the Humber Business Week website regularly, and organisers urge potential hosts to list their events online promptly to join the programme. These launches serve as a crucial platform for revealing event details on both sides of the Humber and fostering engagement among diverse sectors.
By bringing together business insight, cultural perspective, and live performance, the 2026 Humber Business Week aims to reinforce the message that culture is a powerful contributor to regional growth and storytelling. Attendees are encouraged to register for events and secure their places to stay informed of the latest additions to the schedule.
