The Summit, which is sponsored by Barclays Bank, will be held at Central Hall, Westminster, on 17 October 2007, and Alex Pratt will be one of the main speakers.  An adviser to both Tory and Labour governments, today he runs a company that makes high-grade lamps for lifeboats, submarines and spacecraft, as well as for ‘serious readers' who have reached the age when they need more light shed on the page. 

Mr Pratt also invented the ‘Learning Gym', a community project using innovative learning techniques to train people running and working in small businesses. He has lectured on innovation and entrepreneurship at London Business School, the London School of Economics, Henley Management College and the Academy for Chief Executives. He believes that innovation is supply-led, not demand-led. "No one asked for mobile phones, McDonalds or Starbucks." 

Another keynote speaker at the Summit will be Adam Afriyie, the Conservative MP for Windsor, who is also a successful entrepreneur. He was founding director of an IT support services company, Connect Support Services, which in 2001 featured in the Sunday Times' ‘Fast-Track 200', a list of Britain's fastest-growing firms. 

Adam was proud to be London Chairman of Business for Sterling and a spokesperson for the campaign to save the pound and reject the euro.  

He told the FPB: "If we are to succeed and prosper, it is essential to recognise that smaller businesses are the engine of the economy."  

The Summit will also feature workshops at which the owner-managers of smaller businesses can discuss how government policies affect their businesses, and make their concerns heard over issues such as red tape and regulations. 

The FPB has made sure that ‘early birds' will get all this and much more for less than the full price. There will be a 20% discount for all those who book and pay before 2 July 2007. For more information or to book your place, go to www.fpb.org/summit.