Business owners who are passionate about expanding their company and open to new ideas are invited to come to the, 'Improve Through Change' conference at the Killyhevlin Hotel on Thursday next, 31 January.

The event which runs from 9.30 am to 2.00pm aims to inspire, encourage and offer practical ways for small businesses to be innovative. It will be of most value to those who want to put ideas into practice, think outside the box and want to grow cross border.

Organised by Omagh Enterprise Company and Leitrim County Enterprise Board, the conference is part of the Innovate project which aims to improve the innovation capacity of small businesses cross border, in Leitrim and Omagh. Innovate is partly financed by the European Union through the Interreg IIIA Programme for 856,391 euro and is managed by ICBAN.

The keynote speakers will include Brody Sweeney from the O'Brien's Sandwich Bar chain and Norah Casey, Harmonia Ltd, the largest magazine company in Ireland and winner of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year. They will talk about their businesses and the importance of how continual improvement and thinking creatively leads to success.

The format of the conference is geared towards participants finding out how successful entrepreneurs build companies and to network with like-minded business people. There will be sessions during the morning on how to enhance creative thinking.

Brody Sweeney, Chairman and founder, O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bars commenting on the importance of risk taking and ideas in business, said it took guts to take risks and be innovative. "Successful businesses are most likely doing this every day. However to move a company forward it does require the ability to see the merit in a workable idea and the know-how to make it happen. Sometimes, a good idea is the enemy of an even better one."

Anyone interested in attending the event which costs £20 can register or find out more on (028) 79628113 or visit www.improvethroughchange.com or email info@b-r-e.net