Essex County Council is to stage a conference aimed at helping businesses to find funding and to break into new international markets.

The event, at the Chelmsford campus of Anglia Ruskin University on Thursday, February 26, will consist of identical morning and afternoon sessions, including details of business-focused EU funding programmes.

There will be presentations on the overall EU funding picture, as well as in-depth coverage of the key funding programmes through three interactive EU Funding Unplugged breakout sessions on Business Funding for Growth and Jobs, Opportunities for Big Businesses in Europe and Grants for Dynamic Partnerships.

These sessions will allow delegates to interact directly with the key funding leads and find out more about what the programmes mean for their organisation.

Delegates can select to attend a maximum of two EU unplugged workshops giving organisations sending two delegates the opportunity to attend all three sessions should they wish.

Each half-day will also include a networking session branded as part of the county council’s Essex Means Business campaign, taking the form of a business breakfast in the morning and a cocktail reception in the afternoon. There will also be a lunchtime marketplace session available for all delegates.

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council cabinet member for wconomic frowth and infrastructure, said: “We understand that businesses are hungry for growth and are also seeking to break into new international markets.

“This conference will help businesses to find funding and access the support required to make it happen. I am proud that Essex County Council is leading the way and enabling businesses in the region to grow. It’s another demonstration that Essex Means Business.”

For full details of the conference, email the council’s funding and investment team on fit@essex.gov.uk or to register visit http://projecteurope2015.eventbrite.co.uk .

Businesses are invited to register for priority booking for the conference, which is the first of its kind in this region. Priority registration is open until Thursday, January 22 with general registration starting on Monday, January 26.