WHERE are all the young business brainboxes of York and North Yorkshire?

A free place awaits you at a giant exhibition in York early next year.

The plea has gone out from Andy Milson, manager of Innovation Central, the experiment held at last year's Venturefest jamboree for hi-tech, innovative and knowledge-based business ventures and investors.

Innovation Central was a platform for pre-start and new start ventures to show off their potentially money- making concepts.

In spite of some having to pay a £400 premium for an exhibition stand, the exercise was such a success that organisers decided to repeat it, only bigger, better and free.

Mr Milson said: "This time we can offer free space because of generous sponsorship from Business Link and West Yorkshire Ventures and rather than having just six stands, now we are offering qualifying businesses the entire first floor of the Knavesmire Stand at York Racecourse on February 8.

"It's a fantastic opportunity to promote your idea and meet as many as possible of the 2,000 delegates expected and you can't get cheaper than free."

A big advantage for the fledgling ventures taking part will be that they will be in close proximity to professional independent business advisers and will also learn from a series of successful entrepreneurs who have been invited to address Venturefest workshops.

These will include a lunchtime address by Doug Richards, of the Library House software publishing company, founder of the Cambridge Angels and one of the five panellists on the BBC television Dragons Den series, which looked at bankable business ideas.

Entrepreneurs with knowledge-based ideas wanting to take part in Innovation Central should phone Mr Milson on 01904 673767.

Updated: 10:16 Thursday, October 13, 2005