Showing best of Bognor's business at exhibition

The Bognor Regis Business Interchange (TBI) staged a mini-expo at the Regis Centre to enable the public to discover the wealth of services available on their own doorstep.

Among the VIPs who toured the exhibition was town mayor Cllr Don Eldridge, who is an avid supporter of the regeneration of the area, and MP Nick Gibb.

The event, which attracted several hundred visitors, focused on an array of businesses including those involved in the financial sector, hospitality industry, charities, and health and lifestyle ventures.

A programme of free seminars on offer highlighted the importance of marketing and networking, as well as delivering tips on how to start a new business and successfully juggle work/life commitments.

TBI chairman Mike Stevens said: "It really helped raise the profile of TBI and generated good-quality leads between the various exhibitors and visitors."

During his visit the town mayor stopped at the exhibition stand of Wessex Heartbeat, the charity which has raised more than 11m to support the work of the Wessex Cardiac Centre at the Southampton General Hospital.

The centre treats more than 20,000 people each year, including more than 1,000 babies and children born with congenital heart disorders.

Wessex Heartbeat chief executive officer D'Arcy Myers said: "I want Wessex Heartbeat to be able to work with local businesses, supporting them as they strive to support the health of their staff '“ after all the most important asset any one of us has is our health."