APPRENTICE winner Michelle Dewberry will be in Newcastle later this month to host a networking and advice session for small businesses.

Ms Dewberry, who won the BBC TV business competition in 2006, has been brought on board for the event, which is being staged to promote this year’s O2 X Awards for small enterprises.

She now runs her own company chiconomise.com which aims to encourage people to live stylishly while spending less money.

The entrepreneur will talk about her experience of starting her own business and the lessons she learnt along the way, including those she was taught by Sir Alan Sugar.

The evening will also feature a panel of experts giving business advice. They will answer financial queries from the audience, following O2’s recent research which suggested North East small firms’ biggest worries during the recession were financial issues.

After the formal speeches, there will be the opportunity for informal networking with members of the panel and other small firms.

Businesses interested in entering the O2 X Awards will have a chance to find out more about the competition and what benefits their firm could gain by entering.

Simon Devonshire, O2’s head of small business marketing and speaker at the event, said: “The series of regional events we are hosting this year will not only give businesses the chance to find out about the awards, but also give them access to a number of experts in the field of small business who can offer advice on what they could be doing and ways to overcome the difficulties of being out there on your own, especially in the current challenging economic climate.”

The free event takes place from 5.30pm on Thursday June 18 at the O2 Academy in Newcastle.

Businesses interested in booking a place can register online at: www.o2.co.uk/xawards.