More than 25,000 people descended on the ExCel Arena last week for the country’s biggest business exhibition.

The Business Show 2015, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday, saw more than 500 businesses exhibiting while many more developed new contacts through a series of specialised networking meetings.

Alongside industry masterclasses and social media sessions, thousands listened to a long list of key note speakers that included former Dragon Piers Linney – from Dragons’ Den – and 2013 Apprentice finalist Neil Clough.

Evolved from the combination of The Great British Business Show and Business Startup, the free event claims to be the fastest-growing business exhibition in Europe and show director John Pearce was proud of the huge turn-out.

He said: “We were delighted to be able to provide this platform for so many businesses to build new partnerships and create new business going forward.”

A number of lucky contestants had the chance to seek investment from a panel of four millionaires in a series of five-minute business pitches in a “Midas Touch” competition.

“It’s a great show where we met lots of interesting companies and people,” said Emil Vadana, marketing specialist for Outlead Marketing.

“We were really glad to have interacted with them and hopefully we will continue collaborating with some of them.”