WARRINGTON International Business Centre will be the base for a unique video conference linking key players in the regional economy throughout the north west, on Tuesday.

The conference, opened by the Duke of Westminster, will link five other locations in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

It is being organised by the Chartered Accountants' Regional Enterprise Group. Delegates will discuss crucial issues related to the support and development of business in the area and devise a strategy for economic growth.

Accountants, bankers, lawyers and other professionals will link up with businessmen and senior figures from the North West Development Agency, Business Links and other bodies.

The aim is to create a unified approach to enterprise.

Alan Hyams of chartered accountants Moores Rowland, Warrington, Enterprise Group committee member, said the conference was an ambitious undertaking, uniting the different business support agencies from the public and private sectors in a common strategy to boost growth.

"The timing is important, because the region's entrepreneurs and their advisers need to have a strong, clear vision of what they want to do and what help is available, by the time the new Small Business Services begin work next April. Ultimately, it's our voice in Government."

He added that the creation of an enterprise culture needed a close-knit partnership which could make a powerful contribution to economic prosperity.

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