BUSINESS people have marked a successful Open4Business festival by giving a local appeal a boost.

A cheque for £1,751.07 was presented to Dorset County Hospital’s digital mammography appeal which was raised from the Open4Business Awards dinner and matched by Lloyds TSB commercial managers.

The cheque was presented to the BOOST appeal at the closing seminar of O4B.

The Winning Business seminar marked the end of the 18-day festival, which saw more than 750 businesses engaged with Open4Business – a 15 per cent increase on 2010.

More than 50 delegates attended the seminar and heard inspirational presentations from businesswoman Ali Carter who went to Cornwall to buy a holiday home, ended up with a nine-bedroom pub/hotel and sold it for £1million more than she paid for it.

Mandy Payne, of Retail Resource, presented low-cost easy steps on how to improve businesses specialising in customer service and mystery shopping techniques.

Plans have been announced for O4B’s expansion in 2012.

Managing director Julie Cleaver said: “Open4Business is set to expand and grow its offer in 2012, but will continue as a Community Interest Company supported by local businesses and organisations such as the Chamber.

“Traditionally O4B has been a two-week business festival held in October each year, but next year it will offer an annual programme of events, conferences and exhibitions throughout the year with a series of awards in October/ November.

“Next year O4B will be open to any business in the Dorset area and the organisation will be known as Open4Business Dorset CIC.”

See o4business.co.uk for more information.