BUSINESSES across south Wiltshire were able to tap into a wealth of free advice when they attended an event at Salisbury Racecourse hosted by Business Link.

Business Link, which provides independent advice and information to small businesses, organised the Meet the Adviser event especially for enterprises that

have been established for more than three years.

There were a number of professionals on hand, including Business Link's own advisers and representatives from HSBC, financial advisers Smith & Williamson, solicitors Batt Broadbent, Inland Revenue and environmental specialists Envolve, who can help firms reduce waste and make more efficient use of energy.

The event, the first of its kind in the area, aimed to tell businesses about the wide range of advice Business Link has to offer. These services include

finance, exporting, technology, marketing, specialist advice for family businesses and guidance on going through the Investors in People programme.

Business people could have one-to-one appointments with advisers like Brian Steel who specialises in funding and grants.

"We advise on what is potentially available," said Mr Steel. "We also help put the right financial package together.

"We can advise on whether it is best to buy, hire, lease or rent, and help businesses look at things from a different perspective.

"But we are not experts in everything so we can also point them in the direction of experts in particular fields."

The event also gave business people the chance to network with one another and tour an exhibition of Business Link services.

Business Link is hosting an event for complementary therapists at Salisbury Arts Centre next Wednesday 15 May.

The aim of the evening is to help this sector achieve even greater success by telling practitioners about the services Business Link has to offer.