A business event aimed at generating confidence and establishing contacts takes place in Brighton next week.

Sussex in the City is a oneday conference and exhibition showcasing the county's businesses and offering a packed programme of speakers and workshops.

It will concentrate on four areas: Marketing and advertising; people (recruiting, training and retaining); technology and innovation; and information and support.

The event is the brain child of businesswoman Diana Horner who set it up after becoming disillusioned with business conferences.

She said: "This particular conference is a very important and exciting project. Our goal is to create an event that will leave visitors feeling highly motivated.

I am aiming to provide an environment conducive to networking in which people can take advantage of the many contacts available in the region.

"This is one of the most vibrant places to work in the country.

There is a unique spirit of enterprise and innovation in Sussex with high levels of expertise and a highly-creative environment for living and working.

"We have world-class companies and an exceptional number of entrepreneurs, networking and collaborating.

And they certainly look as though they are enjoying it."

Mrs Horner said she wanted delegates to be inspired by innovation and ideas.

Addressing the delegates will be Caraline Brown, managing director of Midnight Communications, the UK's first public relations firm for internet companies, Dick Knight, chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion. and entrepreneur John McWilliams, who runs JoJo, an online creative consultancy.

Mrs Horner said: "In addition we will have a distinctive Brighton touch with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour and a screening of a wickedly-sharp short film produced by We Should Be productions, which gives a painfully-accurate view of Londoners seeking a better life in Brighton."

The film was produced by Richard Daws, head of Victoria Real, the Brighton-based Big Brother web company.

Entry to the conference at the Brighton Centre is free.

Further details can be found on the conference web site. www.sussexinthecity.co.uk