SMALL to medium-sized businesses (SMEs)in York and North and East Yorkshire will soon be able to pitch for millions of pounds worth of contracts normally out of reach - aided by an amazing appliance of science.

More than 1,000 SMEs with a turnover of more than £2 million are expected to converge on this year's Yorkshire Forward Business Conference at Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Showground on Friday, March 4.

Each will be supplied with a microchip gadget to help to bring them closer to top procurement directors - and literally give them good vibrations at the prospect of deals being done.

The delegates will be among the first in the UK to receive Spotme, pictured, a Swiss-made networking device that will enable them to access information on everyone present and send messages to those they want to meet, signalled by vibrations.

A "radar" function will discreetly buzz delegates on the pager-size device when a key contact comes within ten metres - and will even provide a photo so they know who to approach in crowded halls.

Conference organisers are hoping that, by issuing Spotme free to everyone, more delegates will be able to do deals with procurement directors from some of the largest national and international companies in sectors including construction, transport, digital, engineering and healthcare.

Theresa Lindsay, head of marketing for Yorkshire Forward, said a photo would be taken of every delegate and digitalised alongside pre-programmed basic company details and preferences about which procurer would be relevant.

She said: "Approach that would-be contact in a crowded room and the device vibrates the moment you get within ten metres of him or her. A photo flashes up to help you make identification. You can also buzz contacts with a message.

"It beats name tags hands down and ends all that nonsense of staring at each other's lapels or bosoms."

The get-together is designed around Yorkshire Forward's Virtual Enterprise Networks (VENs), a pioneering initiative to help businesses compete more effectively on a global stage through collaboration.

High-profile speakers will address delegates on a variety of topics, looking in particular at creating successful business strategies.

Channel 4 newsreader Krishan Guru-Murthy will host the event and talk in more depth about VENS, while other speakers include Barbara Cassani, former chief executive of Go Fly; quadruple Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent and Rob McMillan, chairman of North of England PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

To reserve a place at the event email: events@yorkshire-forward.com

Updated: 11:41 Thursday, January 13, 2005