Eastleigh council's economic development team is set to stage its first business exhibition in March next year - hoping to bowl over local captains of industry.

The venue for the new style March 5 event will be Hampshire County Cricket Club's Rose Bowl ground at West End.

Organisers claim that the event's name - Contact B2B Eastleigh - says it all.

The business-to-business concept has been developed by specialist organisers, Event Works (UK) Ltd, which is based in Poole, and takes the classic stand and seminar format - but aims to make the event work for exhibitors, sponsors and visitors.

Event Works managing director Chris Wood said: "We aim to have 40 local exhibitors and we try to ensure that companies are the only representative of their product or service. We do this by booking space by industry sector on a first come first served basis."

Project manager Kevin Moore explained that Eastleigh council was taking the step into the business exhibition arena after some careful monitoring of previous events in the area.

More details about the exhibition are available from Kevin Moore on 023 8065 2749 or Chris Wood at Event Works on 01202 692999.