READING: Baroness Blackstone, Minister for Education and Employment in the House of Lords, will be the keynote speaker at a conference to look at ways of overcoming skills shortages in the IT sector in the Thames Valley.

The free event on February 21 from 8.30am to 1pm is being chaired by Gareth Cadwallader, chairman of the e-skills National Training Organisation, and other speakers will include senior representatives from Cisco Systems, Microsoft and WorldCom. Bookings can either be made via Thames Valley Enterprise helpdesk on (0800) 775566 or by e-mail to: www.businesscompetitiveness.com/registration

SLOUGH: Solicitors B P Collins in Station Road, Gerrards Cross, and Barnes Roffe are holding a joint seminar on March 1 to address some of the important issues arising from the employment, retention and release of staff.

The purpose of Employment 2001 - Levelling the Playing Field is to focus on some of the more practical day-to-day staffing issues. Speakers will include David Stanning, head of company/commercial at B P Collins and Jo Davis, in charge of B P Collins' Employment Group.

The event is being held at the Copthorne Hotel with registration at 4pm.

More details from Glyn Stanning at B P Collins on (01753) 279006.

GERRARDS CROSS: Two former members of Careers Springboard, the self-help group for managers and professionals, will return this month to give talks to current members.

On February 19, Keith Hampyn will speak on Job Applications via the Internet while on the following Monday, February 26, Ian Barber will give a talk entitled Re-Marketing Me.

Both meetings will be at 8pm at St Andrew's United Reform Church in Packhorse Road.

For more details contact (01753) 884761 or 883318 or visit the website: http://freespace.virgin.net/careers.springboard

HIGH WYCOMBE: Members of the Wycombe and South Bucks Business Women's Group of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce will find out what goes on behind the scenes at Wycombe District Council during a tour of its offices in Queen Victoria Road on March 7 from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.

For more details on the group, call (01494) 445909.

HIGH WYCOMBE: Empowering Your People for Business Success is the subject of a talk at the next meeting of Breakfast 2000, on February 22.

Guest speaker Ray Reed, chairman of Thomas International, will give the talk at Adams Park, High Wycombe. To reserve a place, call (01494) 452921.