THE University of Worcester is doing its bit to help companies make more of business opportunities.

The university has teamed up with the UK IT Association (UKita), which helps firms in the information technology industry, to form the Business Innovation Club.

Based at the university, the club aims to help technology-led companies in a number of areas where they may be losing out due to a lack of expertise.

Its first event, called Avoiding Extinction, takes place tomorrow. Leading regional businessmen will give advice on how to form and develop a business and ensure it thrives. Speakers include Godfrey Morgan, chief executive of Worcestershire Lifestyles; Fred Noble, a leading West Midlands entrepreneur, and Paul Furniss, a senior lecturer from the university's business school.

The next event, Staying Alive, set for Thursday, June 14, will focus on innovation, project and client management and how to spot and encourage talent in your workforce. And the third, Survival Of The Fittest, on Thursday, September 13, will look at developing best practice, networking and making the most of business contacts.

As well as invaluable advice, each event will offer more than two hours of networking with business from across the West Midlands, as well as a buffet.

Tim Maxfield, the business school's director of development, said: "We don't want to limit this event to any business sector, as we know we can all learn from each other, and hopefully, this will encourage new business opportunities across the West Midlands."

For more information on the events and to book places, visit the UKita website at www.ukita.co.uk