DESTINATION Growth, the East of England's biggest business and networking event, is returning this year, giving firms across the region the opportunity to tap into top-quality advice and insights on how to “survive and thrive” in the current economic climate.

DESTINATION Growth, the East of England's biggest business and networking event, is returning this year, giving firms across the region the opportunity to tap into top-quality advice and insights on how to “survive and thrive” in the current economic climate.

Following the success of the last Destination Growth in 2007, this year's event - again being organised by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) - is intended to be even bigger and is expected to attract an audience of more than 1,000 ambitious business leaders from the SME sector at which it is targeted.

Besides hearing from a number of high-profile speakers, delegates will be able to create a fully tailored programme to meet their individual needs, taking advantage of workshops, networking opportunities with hundreds of like-minded business leaders and one-to-one meetings with world-class business experts.

Heading the line-up of speakers at Destination Growth '09 - which, as two years ago, it being staged at the AirSpace Duxford musueum - will be Greg Dyke, former director general of the BBC and now chairman of the British Film Institute, who will open the event with a key-note address on “leading in adversity”.

Mr Dyke worked his way up through the ranks of the television industry to the top job at the BBC, starting four new digital television channels, five new digital radio channels and helping to create Freeview on the way.

He left the BBC in January 2004 in controversial circumstances following the report of the Hutton Inquiry. Many thousands of the BBC staff took to the streets to protest at his departure. At Destination Growth '09, he will share his personal insights and reflections on how to lead effectively in the most challenging of environments.

News of other high-profile speakers set to attend the event will be announced over the coming months. The programme will also include master-classes and topical debates focusing on pertinent business issues such as like financing your business, sales and marketing, leadership and innovation, and there will also be a networking and exhibition area for up to 50 business support organisations, offering opportunities to network with like-minded business leaders.

Richard Ellis, chairman of EEDA, said: “Destination Growth '09 will bring the country's leading business experts to the doorstep of this region's businesses, and the timing could not be more critical.

“With companies facing-up to some of the toughest post-war economic conditions, it's absolutely essential that they have the right tools to both survive the storm, and thrive to push forward in preparation for the upturn.”

Destination Growth '09 takes place on Tuesday, November 3 and is open to leaders from SMEs - defined as businesses turning over more than �250,000 per annum and employing fewer than 250 employees.

Places cost �75 plus VAT and seminars are expected to sell-out fast, so businesses are advised to register early at www.eeda.org.uk/destinationgrowth. Attendance is limited to one delegate per company.