SMALL rural businesses will get the chance to meet buyers from large organisations during an event at a North-East castle.

The Meet the Buyer event, at Raby Castle, near Staindrop, County Durham, on Wednesday and Thursday, February 21 and 22, will see representatives from ten major organisations speak to people from local businesses face to face, and the event is designed to give trade and links between big traders and rural companies a boost.

Organisers, Teesdale Enterprise Agency, is staging two negotiating skills workshops to be held prior to the event to help businesses make the most of their contact with buyers