They gathered in the North Street venue for an audience with two inspirational female entrepreneurs on Thursday June 12.

This was the second Microbiz Masterclass and was designed to inspire small business owners - all within a time frame of just three hours.

The Microbiz Masterclass was the brainchild of the business development unit at Horsham District Council.

Speakers included nationally acclaimed home business guru, Emma Jones, author of the best selling book 'Spare Room Start Up' and also the founder of the UK's largest and most popular home business support website, www.enterprisenation.com.

Horsham's home grown award winning entrepreneur Sarah Hatswell, who is managing director of Sovereign Credit Management, was also on hand for advice.

District council business development manager Chris Baister said: "Every year the Horsham Microbiz event that takes place in March gets bigger and better and we shape the content from the feedback of visitors and exhibitors.

"This year, people told us that they wanted even more from Microbiz and that once a year was not enough.

"That's why we've launched these Masterclasses to give real added value to small businesses.

"They're not just about bringing small business owners together to network, they're also about introducing fantastic speakers that can inspire people and provide great advice at the same time."

Both Sarah and Emma had the audience spellbound with how they achieved success on their own terms, starting out as home based businesses and in Emma's case, staying put in the spare bedroom home office.

Emma said: "I was delighted to be invited to speak in Horsham as the council is doing so much to encourage and support home business - more than any other local authority we've come across.

"The event itself was excellent, well organised, a big and buzzing audience and of course I was thrilled with the queue of people that formed in the interval to buy my book.

"As I spoke to people, I heard some great ideas for new businesses and was told of home business success stories too.

"From what I saw and heard on Thursday evening, it's a dead cert that home businesses will continue to flourish in Horsham.

"And I hope I'll be invited back again soon."

An email from Sarah Riley of Utility Discount Warehouse Club the following day summed up the event:: "You produced yet another fantastic event for us - really enjoyed it and have been truly inspired."

The district council is now looking for small business owners, whether based at home or in premises and anyone thinking of starting a business, to get in touch and shape the content of future Microbiz Masterclasses.

To guarantee a place at future Microbiz Masterclasses by taking part in the Microbiz Masterclass questionnaire, contact Nigel Fitzsimmons at the district council on 01403 215529 or email business.development@horsham.gov.uk.