TONIGHT sees the launch of a new business organisation aiming to put Southampton on the map and get the city's coffers overflowing again.

Called Business Southampton, it brings together some of regional economy's biggest hitters with top politicians and academics in a bid to get the city on the map.

It starts officially tonight at St Mary's Stadium with up to 300 VIPs from the business world expected to attend and give their support.

Already, it has won more than £175,000 worth of backing from founder firms known as City Champions, who believe the investment in Business Southampton will reap long-term rewards.

In total 30 firms have handed over between £3,000 and £35,000, either as cash or in-kind, to fund the group, which ultimately hopes to enlist the support of 100 companies from its SO postcode region.

Founded on the belief that Southampton is the best place to do business in the south of England outside London, the group aims to put a stop to the city's dismal record of under-performing against rivals.

Chief targets include promoting its status as the UK's number one port city across Europe and highlighting Southampton's glorious record of innovation and invention, which still thrives today.

Other targets include attracting more high profile events to the city, tackling the urgent skills shortage, helping secure a rail freight upgrade for containers from the port and developing new tourist attractions.

The group also intends to use the muscle of its heavyweight board to swing big government decisions Southampton's way.

It is headed by chief executive Sally Lynskey, pictured, and former managing partner of local law firm Paris Smith and Randall Malcolm le Bas, who has come out of retirement to chair the board of directors.

"There's a perception that the city's heyday was in the 1930s when the docks were full of liners," said Sally. "But that's not true, the heyday is now. The port is busier than it's ever been and generates more than £2 billion to the UK economy. We also have a world class airport on our doorstep and we need to encourage its growth and expansion.

"The aim is to promote Southampton locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. We have major assets that make us a great place for business and we need to shout about it."

See Wednesday's Daily Echo for full launch coverage