SPONSORS of this year's Suffolk Business Exhibition, which takes place on April 29 at Trinity Park, Ipswich, gathered last week to launch what will be bigger and better event than ever before.

SPONSORS of this year's Suffolk Business Exhibition, which takes place on April 29 at Trinity Park, Ipswich, gathered last week to launch what will be bigger and better event than ever before.

With an exhibition theme of “fit for tough times ahead”, the launch was held in the new gym facilities at Ipswich Sports Club.

The annual exhibition has been an important date in the business calendar for more than 10 years and, for the first time this year, organiser ISSBA (the Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association) is joining forces with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to stage the event.

Kim Brown, chairman of ISSBA and owner of Boleyn Events, said that sales of stands were well ahead of projections.

“Normally at this stage we still have plenty to offer potential exhibitors,” she said. “This year is quite different. Perhaps it is a reflection of the tough times that we're all experiencing in business, but whilst we have 50% more stands, we have only a handful left to sell, and they are going very quickly.

“Our decision to focus on fighting back in the recession seems to be particularly apt and there is clearly a real appetite for it,” she added.

The Suffolk Business Exhibition includes a diverse line-up of speakers and the introduction of valuable workshop sessions where businesses can seek free and impartial business advice. Admission is free for business owners and the general public.

For more information about the exhibition, visit www.issba.co.uk or www.suffolkchamber.co.uk .