BUSINESSES have celebrated this year's launch of an annual showcase event featuring around 100 small firms from across Suffolk.The Suffolk Business Exhibition, previously known as the Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association Trade Fair, is due to take place this year on May 2.

BUSINESSES have celebrated this year's launch of an annual showcase event featuring around 100 small firms from across Suffolk.

The Suffolk Business Exhibition, previously known as the Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association Trade Fair, is due to take place this year on May 2.

Sponsors of the 2006 show gathered to launch this year's event at the site of the new Trinity Park Conference and Events Centre in Ipswich where the event will be held.

Amongst the sponsors are Archant Suffolk, which includes the East Anglian Daily Times, Trinity Park, IPSENTA, PKF, Barclays Bank, Jackaman Smith & Mulley, Ipswich Borough Council, Healeys Printers and ITV Sales.

The event, being held at Trinity Park for the second year running, attracts large audiences keen to see what the region's small businesses have to offer and heat a wide range of presentations on a variety of topics.

Vivienne Maunder, chair of ISSBA, said support from sponsors had been “superb”. “We're extremely grateful to all of the organisations who continue to demonstrate their commitment to the growth of small businesses in the county through their generous sponsorship of our annual show,” she said.

Attendance is free to businesses, start-ups and the general public. The event takes place from 5pm to 9pm, with an afternoon seminar starting at 2.30pm.

For more details, go to www.issba.co.uk.