FLEDGLING businesses in the Durham area are being offered a grounding in commerce at free workshops.

Enterprise group A4e is running the two-hour sessions, Five Steps for Starting Your Business, each week at its premises on the Tursdale Industrial Estate, off the Bowburn to Metal Bridge road, near Durham.

Follow-up workshops are also available in everything from marketing to book-keeping, plus web design.

Initial awareness sessions are staged each Wednesday, from 6pm to 8pm, with booking essential. The next more specialised course is on marketing, on Monday, February 27, from 6pm to 8pm.

Details are available from administrator Joyce Collett, on 0191-377 9888.