Controversial former Government spin doctor Alastair Campbell will head a line-up of top speakers at Yorkshire Forward's annual business conference.

The event, geared to help businesses turn knowledge into profit, will also feature Science Minister Lord Sainsbury and former Millennium Dome chief executive Pierre-Yves Gerbeau.

Bradford business people are being urged to attend the event in Harrogate next month, which aims to provide people with inspiration and practical support to help push their businesses to the forefront of their industry.

One theme of the event will be to identify opportunities for Yorkshire firms to forge alliances to help them compete for national and international contracts.

And the conference will also highlight the importance of increasing investment in research and development among local firms.

Yorkshire Forward is keen to extend links between businesses and universities, with just seven per cent of firms currently working alongside higher education establishments.

Yorkshire Forward chief executive Martin Havenhand said each speaker would deliver a special insight into the issues facing businesses.

"They will clearly demonstrate the results that can be achieved by tapping into the wealth of knowledge within the region and prove that creative thinking should be incorporated into every level of an organisation," he said. "Delegates will also get practical help to discover new ideas and new ways of working in an "innovation quarter" where, among others, commercial managers from the recently-established Centres of Industrial Collaboration will be on hand to give advice."

The event is aimed at managing directors, chief executives, finance directors and those involved in product development and marketing. More than 700 people have already registered for the free event at the Great Yorkshire Showground on January 12. Anyone else interested in attending should email events@yorkshire-forward.com or telephone (0113) 394 9712.