It's a must for networking and gaining vital intelligence which could put your business on the road to success.

The Echo-backed South Coast Business Works is now just over a week away.

To date more than 20 companies and organisations have taken stands at the event, to be held at Novotel Southampton, on Wednesday, February 1.

Trethowans Solicitors are back on board for the fifth year as principal sponsors alongside event partners Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton.

Senior partner at the firm Simon Rhodes said: "It is great to be back once again, supporting the South Coast Business Works. Working with our partners the Southern Daily Echo, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton, we are able to put on another fantastic event that’s helping to promote economic growth in our region.

"Trethowans remains committed to supporting our region’s business community at events such as this. Please come along, enjoy the seminar, the exhibition area and the networking. Hopefully you will leave with new contacts, new ideas and some new opportunities."

There are three keynote speakers at the event who can offer a special insight into the way the area will be developing in the future. They are Brad Roynon from Go! Southampton, Dave Lees, managing director of Southampton Airport, and Andy Collyer manager of Westquay shopping centre.

More than 30 businesses and organisations will be having stands at the event. They include:

  • Amplify PR
  • Answers Investigations
  • Basepoint Centre
  • Berry Recruitment
  • BH1 Promotions
  • Box It
  • 12 College Place
  • Eight Wealth
  • Eric Robinson
  • Five Bars Mobile
  • Halo Conferences
  • Hendy Group
  • Hilton at the Ageas
  • Innovate Websites
  • Lucketts Travel
  • Spectrum Workplace
  • Southampton Solent University
  • University of Portsmouth
  • University of Southampton
  • Zest Consultancy Ltd.

During the afternoon there will be a question time session with a specially selected panel.

They are Mike Warren, managing director of the Harbour Hotels Group; Derek Headrige, campus principal of Totton College; Catherine Turness, executive director of Winchester Business Improvement District (BID); Nella Pang, chair of the Southampton Property Association and Simon Rhodes of Trethowans.

The session will be chaired by Lee Peck, of Southampton-based PR company Lee Peck Media.

Trethowans Solicitors are back on board for the fifth year as principal sponsors alongside event partners Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Destination Southampton.

There are a still few exhibition spaces available. For exhibitor package details call call 023 8042 4872 or email businessworks@dailyecho.co.uk to find out more.

Visitors to the exhibition can register for free at dailyecho.co.uk/businessworks.