FREE help and advice from Customs and Excise is being offered to all businesses in East Lancashire.

The Customs and Excise Business Advice Open Day, sponsored by the Big Small Business Initiative, takes place at Blackburn Rovers' football ground Ewood Park.

The event will bring together a range of public and private sector organisations including Inland Revenue, Office of Fair Trading, UK Online for Business, Health and Safety Executive, Patent Office, Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, Learndirect, Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, Environment Agency and Agepositive.

Experts on VAT, importing and exporting, and other topics, will be on hand to offer professional help and guidance. Seminars will be running throughout the day, on various aspects of business including: managing sick absence and statutory payments; the basics of VAT; intellectual property rights; and pensions choice in the workplace.

The event will take place on Thursday, February 5. For more information including booking a place on one of the seminars, go to www.businessadviceday.co. uk or call 0121 697 4065.