BUSINESS owners and budding entrepreneurs were offered free help and advice at an event organised for the Lancashire Telegraph’s We’re Backing Business campaign.

Steve Gray, chief executive of Training 2000, and experts from Business Link North West were on hand to tackle problems and share their wisdom at the seminar at Holiday Inn Express, Pendle Way, Burnley, yesterday.

Bosses from hardware, civil engineering and start-up firms benefited from the event.

The We’re Backing Business campaign was launched in partnership with Business Link North West last April to help companies through the recession.

But, even though Britain is officially out of recession, East Lancashire businesses are still feeling the bite of the downturn.

Mr Gray, whose Blackburn-based organisation trains staff from across the country, hailed yesterday’s event as a success.

He said: “This was a very valuable exercise and hopefully the help the people who came to this event received will encourage more businesses across East Lancashire to use Business Link.

“I know that the businesses really got something out of this.”

Business Link adviser Rob McGuinness, who was also at yesterday’s event, added: “The event has been well used by people and that is down to us getting our message out through the Lancashire Telegraph.

“We are all about helping businesses survive.”

For more information about Business Link North West go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/northwest/innovation or call 0845 0066888.