AN event to encourage more people to think about starting their own business will be held in the region tomorrow.

The Start Your Own Business event, organised by Business Link Tyne and Wear on behalf of the region's Business Links and regional development agency One NorthEast, is the first event in a strategy to encourage more people to set up on their own.

The event will be held at The Samsung Training Centre, in Wynyard, and the Telewest Arena, in Newcastle, and will be open from 10am and 6pm. Admission is free.

Carol Taylor, enterprise manager at Business Link Tyne and Wear, said: "Research commissioned by us last year, showed that there are more than 87,000 residents in Tyne and Wear alone who believe they could start their own business.

"It also found that one of the biggest problems for those people was that other people didn't think they were capable of running a business."

She added: "Tomorrow's event is aimed at encouraging people across the region to come and find out what they really need to know to run a business and the kind of support that is available to them."

The event will feature professional business advisors, with entrepreneurs from across the North-East sharing their views and experiences.

Each of the venues will be divided into five zones covering everything from the importance of finding and developing a business idea to how to get started, what information people need to know and where to find it.

There will be seminars throughout the day, including guest speakers David Lloyd, the former tennis player and entrepreneur, Martin Healy, managing director of Galaxy Radio, Dave Charlton, founder of the Officers Club, and John Marshall, who established Durham Pine.

Tim Cantle Jones, board member of One NorthEast, said: "This regional event marks the start of an ongoing strategy aimed at helping people to take the important first steps and supporting start-up business once they have done so.

"By working closely with Business Links we aim to ensure the potential entrepreneurs of the region have a successful and sustainable future."

To find out more about the event contact 08456 018019.