PORT VALE CO-OWNER CAROL SHANAHAN ANNOUNCED AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS EVENT
Co-owner and chair of Port Vale Football Club – Carol Shanahan OBE – has been announced as a keynote speaker at the Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Festival.
Carol will open the Women in Business-themed event on the fourth day of the festival – Thursday 19 March – and will be discussing the opportunities and challenges associated with life as a football club owner, as well as the award-winning community work she is involved in through the club’s charitable arm – the Port Vale Foundation.
Speakers Hannah Ault (CEO of Valentine Clays), and Ramona Hirschi (Belvoir Stoke-on-Trent and Vice President of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce) will also be speaking on the same day to share their business journeys. Plus, Josie Vujcic of Community Interest Company – Nelly’s Nest – will be sharing insights into the neurodiverse community and Sonya Farrall of BabaBaboon, will be hosting the event for the second year in a row.
Plus, there will be a variety of female-led SME’s exhibiting at the St Giles Church venue.
(Main image Carol Shanahan OBE courtesy of Port Vale Football Club)
Carol said: “I’m delighted to have been invited to speak at this year’s business festival. Life as a football club owner is certainly never dull, and we’ve seen first-hand over the last six years how a football club can be a force for good, supporting health, education and inclusion right across Staffordshire. I’m excited to talk about that journey at the event.”
The NUL Business Festival first took place in March 2025, following a successful collaboration between Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and PH Productions. The festival has received funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will take place over five days at venues in and around the town of Newcastle, from 16-20 March.
For 2026, a brand new dedicated mobile App has also been created for bookings and users and search the full event guide. The App can be downloaded via Apple and Google.
Pete Herbert of PH Productions said: “We are really excited for what is going to be a jam packed week of business networking, collaborations and inspirational speakers.
“There will also be a whole host of workshops taking place throughout the week and with thanks to support from the Borough Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund each day is free for businesses to attend.
“We are also delighted to reveal our brand new App which has all the information about our amazing speakers, workshops and venues. Users can also plan the sessions they are looking to attend – which will be most useful as everything can be stored in one place.”
The festival will open on Monday 16 March, with keynote speaker Dr James Bannerman – who is reported to be the only man in the world with a PHD in Lateral Thinking – sharing his experiences around creative thinking. David Beech (CEO of Knights), Steve Timmis (Sempar) and Alistair Machin (Chaffinch and Ravenscliffe Workspaces) will also be delivering talks.
Peter the Speaker of Dragons Den fame will be delivering an interactive presentation on Business & Networking Day (Wednesday 18 March) and on the closing day creative industry experts Clare Wood (British Ceramics Biennial) and creative consultant and cultural advisor – Sud Basu are part of a cultural and economy panel.
Registration is required to attend workshops and the business events. For more information please visit nulshapingtefuture.co.uk
The Shaping the Future Festival App can be downloaded from Apple and Google Play.
An agenda for all of the themed days can be found here
Employment & Entrepreneurs Day (Monday 16 March St Giles Church):
Innovation Day (Tuesday 17 March)
Business & Networking Day (Wednesday 18 March)
Women in Business Day (Thursday 19 March St Giles Church)
Creative Industries & Outdoor Arts Day (Friday 20 March)
