OXFORDSHIRE'S business event of the year was voted a rousing success by all those who took part.

Thousands of visitors flocked to see displays by more than 25 of Oxfordshire's leading businesses at Blenheim Palace.

The In Business exhibition was organised by the business magazine of the Oxford Mail's sister paper The Oxford Times, in association with Business Link Heart of England and the Oxford-based IGW Group. It was the largest and most prestigious business-to-business exhibition in the region.

The Orangery and Spencer Churchill Rooms were transformed into a high-profile shop window for products and services.

Exhibition organiser Sally Everton said: "It was a tremendous success. Everyone was delighted with how it went."

Visitors and stand-holders praised the event as a golden opportunity to gain useful advice and network with fellow business people from one of the most economically active counties in the UK.

Ralph Cowles, the general manager of document storage firm Box-It Central, said: "It is an excellent idea. It's a great opportunity to meet people and, of course, do some business."

Derek Witts, managing partner of D.W. Consultants of East Hanney, near Wantage, said: "It is a wonderful opportunity to meet people and get our message across."

Richard Leonard, of public relations firm The Image Factory, said: "It is a chance to make some contacts and meet people you might otherwise not come into contact with."

David Williams, of chartered surveyors Cluttons Daniel Smith, said: "The venue makes a big difference and this is an absolutely superb location."

A highlight of the event, which ran from 11am to 7pm, was a series of free 90-minute seminars held throughout the day covering a wide range of commercial issues, from business planning and recruitment to time-management and succession planning.

In Business, Oxfordshire's leading business and finance magazine, is published monthly with The Oxford Times, the Newspaper Society's weekly newspaper of the year in London and the South East.

Story date: Thursday 21 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.