A SUNNY evening at Lulworth Castle was the perfect setting for Business Link’s second event in this year’s Open 4 Business season.

See Past The Words: The Art Of Body Language In Business drew company owners from all over Dorset.

It was presented by Richard Newman, whose career as a body language coach has seen him working with leading firms in 40 different countries.

The event was the second of four major sessions being held for the Open4Business season by Business Link.

Mr Newman told his audience that in business awareness of the physical messages you are sending can be vital: “There are things in your body language you can change – sometimes by just an inch – and they will get help get you the thumbs-up rather than the thumbs-down.”

Interactive episodes during the session helped him demonstrate that it is essential not to be sending mixed messages when there is something crucial to get across.

Business Link’s Matthew Butcher said: “All of the events organised by Business Link in Dorset are designed to provide useful, practical information, which will assist company owners to develop their businesses.

“Some people might wonder how much we really need to be concerned with something like body language, but Richard has worked with many major businesses, including IBM, KPMG and the McLaren Formula 1 team.

“It is a diverse range of companies, but what they have in common is that they have all found value in his thoughts about how we can be at our most effective in meetings and negotiations.

“I think he demonstrated here today that our messages are conveyed by signals as well as by words, and you need to be aware of the signals you are sending.”

There are two more Business Link events, at Kingston Maurward in September and Weymouth in October. For more information about Business Link events, go to www.o4business.co.uk * OPEN 4 Business is spread over five months this year before reaching its finale in October.

The event also covers the Dorset coast from Purbeck to Lyme, as well as its heartland of Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester.

Activities have already begun with fully booked Business Link workshops in Bridport and Lulworth.

There has also been a packed business breakfast at the Rendezvous in Weymouth.

Some 78 business people attended the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce and Lloyds TSB business breakfast.

More events are planned during the summer and autumn.

The main festival events in October has been extended from two weeks to three this year.

This year’s festival has the theme of ‘world-class business’ to encourage firms to prepare for the 2012 Olympics and opportunities.

Open 4 Business chairman Gareth Jones, of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, is working with Robert Moore from West Dorset District Council, Helen Heanes from Dorset County Council, Richard Wilson from Purbeck District Council and main sponsor Weymouth College. The steering group is supported by Business Link, which will be co-ordinating events, with marketing company Popcorn Marketing, Cocoa Media and film makers Champagne Film Productions. The Dorset Echo is the media partner and a sponsor.