When you’re busy tackling the day-to-day workload with your head down, it is not easy to get a complete picture of how much fantastic work is going on in and around York to keep existing businesses growing and get start-ups off the ground.

That’s one of the most important reasons why York Business Week matters so much. By bringing together business and public sector leaders, support providers, entrepreneurs and students with a series of great events in a single week in November, we have the rare opportunity to inspire, advise and celebrate all that’s great about doing business in York.

It’s all about focus. We can’t ignore the current uncertain economic conditions that are challenging even the most successful global businesses, but there is so much positive work being done that we must find time to showcase this and give it the recognition it deserves.

York continues to thrive, relatively speaking, and that’s not achieved by accident. We have a superb network of support organisations in the city, including the universities, Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber and City of York Council, and a tremendous entrepreneurial spirit that gives us the ideal platform from which to grow further. And we work hard to ensure established businesses and those starting up know about the valuable support and expertise that will help them succeed.

The positivity that York Business Week brings is vital in inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs. The importance of this cannot be understated as start-up businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, the city’s future employers and the wealth creators that benefit the whole of society. The Yorkshire Association of Business Angels Forum which York St John Business School is hosting on Tuesday, November 15, is one of a number of events designed to open up new funding opportunities as well as provide practical skills, inspiration and vision.

York Business Week’s focus is also on the sectors in which York currently excels to ensure the city strengthens its position and remains at the top of its game in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Tourism is one such sector and this year’s Annual Tourism Futures Conference, which York St John Business School, also on November 15, is set to be as fascinating as ever as experts gather to debate how York makes the most of international inbound tourism, the biggest prize in tourism.

• Jackie Mathers is Dean of the Business School at York St John University.

• More information on the business training programmes provided by York St John Business School is available by phoning 01904 876915 or emailing business.school@yorksj.ac.uk