COMPANIES are being invited to sell themselves as developers gear up for a multi-million pound construction project in Oxfordshire.

John Laing wants to meet local firms interested in helping supply industrial and commercial products to the developers of the Joint Service Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.

Laing is part of the Defence Management Consortium, which will be building the college and then operating it for the Ministry of Defence for 30 years as part of the Government's Private Finance Initiative.

A 'meet the buyers' event has been organised by Laing and Business Link at Shrivenham Memorial Hall, Shrivenham, tomorrow.

Steve Cooper, of John Laing Construction, said the event would provide a forum for the developers and sub-contractors to meet companies selling services vital to the project.

He said: "By the end of the event we hope to have made a number of important contacts across a range of businesses which we can call upon over the coming months."

Also attending the event will be sub-contractors involved in the housing, groundworks, concrete, windows, bricklaying and building services part of the project.

Backers include Business Link Heart of England, the Vale of White Horse District Council, Thames Valley Economic Partnership and Business Link - Regional Supply Network.

Attendance costs £15 plus VAT. More information from Carol Brant at Business Link on 01753 532717.

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