Start-ups and entrepreneurs were treated to advice on making it in the business world from speakers at the forefront of their industries at a networking event in Norwich.

The new businesses event at John Lewis saw more than 50 entrepreneurs and business representatives alongside local councillors gather to hear from three speakers on innovation and entrepreneurship.

The crowd at The Place To Eat restaurant were treated to anecdotes about digital innovation from filmmaker-turned-tech-entrepreneur Steffan Aquarone, heard about innovation and support for new businesses at the John Lewis Partnership from its chief information officer, the Catton-born Paul Coby, and were told Café Rouge founder and UEA chancellor Karen Jones' top tips for starting up your own company.

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Sheriff of Norwich Richard Marks opened the event with some facts and figures showing the city's buoyancy as a new business hub.

'It is fairly common knowledge that Norwich has a strong business centre. What perhaps is less well known is the large number of start-up businesses in the centre,' he said.

'The facts about start-ups are really impressive. Last year 1,098 new businesses were registered in Norwich – more than Cambridge, Oxford, Ipswich and Exeter.

'All of this is fantastic news for jobs and confidence in the centre, which we should celebrate.'