ORGANISERS of York Business Week have vowed the event will continue for a fifth year despite the departure of its founder.

The five-day event was spearheaded by York businessman Nick Eggleton, who with support from partnership organisations, has led the running of four annual events.

However a question mark has hung over 2014's Business Week following the departure of Mr Eggleton, who emigrated to Australia at the end of last year.

The business engagement group, which organises the event and was previously led by Mr Eggleton, has now vowed York Business Week will return for 2014.

Emma Smailes, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, who is acting chairwoman for the business engagement group, said: "York Business Week is internationally renowned as an event that shows innovation and inspiration for all areas of business.

"York is an inspirational place to do business and Business Week is a celebration of that, and it would be wrong to loose it."

Although York Business Week will be staged in the city this year the format of the week will differ from previous years.

The event will still coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week, from November 17 to 21, however the week will feature only one "core event", with an invitation to other businesses and organisations to host their own "add ons".

Last year's York Business Week attracted around 7,000 people to more than 16 different events, winning the event 20 High Impact Awards from the organisers of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The week got underway with York Business Conference, hosted by City of York Council, which will return this year to form the main event of the week.

Mrs Smailes added: "We needed to make sure York Business Week continued but in a way that is sustainable.

"The group felt there is so much for businesses to chose from in terms of what has previously been offered that it has got to a level that cannot be micromanaged.

"On Tuesday 18 we will hold York Business Conference, which the council will be taking the lead on once again. We are looking at a city centre venue, and will focus on the theme of connecting businesses.

"Partners will then be invited to hold their own events, as they have done before, but they will take more of a lead on that.

"It will still be called York Business Week, it just isn't going to be micromanaged as it has been in previous years."

York Business Week also coincides with The Press Business Awards, which are being launched later this month, with the awards night taking place on November 20 at York Racecourse.