THE woman who turned Cheltenham Literature Festival into an international event is to speak to the Worcestershire business community.

Jane Furze will address the Three Counties Big Breakfast on Thursday September 10 at the business centre at Malvern's Three Counties showground. She will give a behind the scenes glimpse of the work involved putting on the globally-renowned festival and what it’s like to host 500 events, 600 speakers and a worldwide audience over 10 days in October every year.

Chris Eldridge, marketing director of co-sponsors Bruton Knowles, said: "Jane Furze is a familiar figure across the Three Counties business world having established the Cheltenham Literature Festival as a globally recognised treat. Her talk will cover the difficulties of putting rock stars on the same stage with authors, as well as explaining why charities rely on strong and sustainable funding partnerships.

“Jane has also agreed to put up the business card prize draw, which will be two tickets to a Cheltenham Literature Festival headline event of the winner’s choice along with a drink in the Green Room beforehand.”

The Big Breakfast gives business chiefs across the area the opportunity to extend their contact network and will start with registration at 7.30am followed by breakfast, meet and mingle, speakers and a question and answer session wrapping up at 9am. For further details of the Three Counties Big Breakfast programme go to www.threecountiesbigbreakfast.co.uk