OWNERS and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises can attend a free event this month that could help them take their businesses to the next level.

Specialist North-East fund management company NEL and business support organisation Darlington Business Venture (DBV) are hosting a day looking at investment options open to companies wanting to develop and expand.

The event will take place in the DBV conference suite in Northgate House, St Augustine's Way, Darlington, on Thursday, October 21, from 2pm until 4pm,.

Mike Hird, who is the business manager at NEL's office in Stockton, said: "NEL invests solely in businesses and ideas from within the North-East and has made over 340 investments in a broad range of firms over the last decade."

The company has made significant investments in the region this year, and Mr Hird believes the contact opportunities offered by the event will be an ideal way of sourcing the region's next big business ideas.

He said: "We know the North-East is an extremely fertile area for innovative business ideas across many different sectors and we are proud to have provided investments which have helped many of our fastest-growing firms achieve their ambitions.

"This event will be both an excellent networking opportunity and an invaluable way for business owners and managers to gain an insight into the financial and business opportunities available to them."

Henry Mooney, business development manager at DBV, said: "Forming this partnership with NEL allows us to extend the range of opportunities we can offer to new and existing businesses, particularly with regards to funding.

"We are certainly expecting a strong response to the event."

For more information, or to reserve a place, call Mr Mooney on (01325) 289610.