Brief Case.

ETHNIC minority businesses in the north west contribute u p to pounds 2.4m a year in profits to the region's economy and provide almost 103,400 jobs, a new report by the Northwest Development Agency shows.

It consulted 250 ethnic minority entrepreneurs and found that outside of economic activity, ethnic minority businesses contribute considerable amounts of time and money to charities and community groups

MATHEW Streetbased October Communications has been awarded a major 18 month contract to promote north Wales tourism in the north west by Tourism Partnership North Wales. October opened an office in north Wales a year ago headed by former BBC Radio Merseyside news editor Ruby Williams

THE first phase of a pounds 2.35m infrastructure and environmental regeneration of Aintree Industrial Estate by Liverpool Land Development Company has been completed.

Improvements to the Lower Lane/Brookfield Drive/Hanson Road corridor are part of a pounds 4m scheme to rejuvenate the 119-year-old estate which is home to more than 100 businesses and 5,000 workers. The facelift will help attract new investment and jobs

BUSINESSES Together, a new networking club for senior decision makers in Sefton and Merseyside, holds its first event at Southport's Floral Hall on September 20.

Michael Elliott, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society chief executive, will deliver the keynote speech. Call 01704500733 or email [e-mail] to book a place

ASSOCIATED British Foods, trading as Primark, will keep more Littlewoods stores than anticipated after its pounds 409m acquisition of the Liverpool-based retail group's 120-strong portfolio in July.

Primark said it would take between 25 and 40 stores and sell the rest. In a trading update today it indicated it will retain and rebrand up to 40 stores and sell on 80 former Littlewoods sites. It said there has been a "high degree of interest" in the stores for sale