Local companies are being offered a free ticket to the Global Manufacturing Festival if they bring a business from outside of the Sheffield City Region to the popular event.

Businesses which purchase a ticket for the convention and trade show at Sheffield City Hall on March 22 will be able to take a partner organisation from across the UK or internationally free of charge. 

The Global Manufacturing Festival is being organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Marketing Sheffield. It will focus on the critical issues which enable businesses to compete and thrive in the future, including creating products for many sectors, competing on technology and building trade with new markets.

Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is our ambition that this event will enable companies from the Sheffield City Region to develop long-term business relationships with national and international partners.

"We hope this ticket offer will support existing business partnerships and help create and develop new ones to grow the region's economy.

"Trading nationally and internationally, either directly or indirectly through supply chains, creates wealth, which will benefit other sectors and develop more opportunities for businesses, ultimately building our region's economy."

Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield City Council, added: "This is a great showcase for the city and follows on from a successful inaugural event last year. The Global Manufacturing Festival is a home-grown event and I hope businesses large and small will attend the festival and help to boost its success and appeal to city, national and international companies."

Brendan Moffett, director of Marketing Sheffield, said: "This is a great opportunity for Sheffield City Region businesses to bring a new supply chain prospect or existing customer to the city, and show them the incredible strength we have in advanced materials and metals, hopefully leading to new business opportunities." 

The second Global Manufacturing Festival will take place in Sheffield on 21-22 March 2012. Headline sponsors for the two-day event include Nabarro LLP, The University of Sheffield, NatWest and Siemens Plc.

More than 40 per cent of tickets have been allocated for the festival already. Anyone wishing to attend can purchase a ticket from £99 + VAT.