Broadband business workshops are popular

A series of workshops designed to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to get the most out of superfast broadband is continuing to prove popular in Beverley.

The business support element of the Broadband East Riding programme has been operational since early 2014 and has interacted with 350 local businesses - around 200 of which have benefited from attending the 47 Digital For Business workshops delivered to date, with over 1,500 total hours of support provided.

The workshops have received outstanding feedback from local businesses who have rated them very highly, with 99 per cent of delegates saying they were interested in attending further workshops. 

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, investment and inequalities, said: “Having access to the internet is an important aspect of modern life, with many of us using it on a daily basis to keep in contact with family and friends.

“Commercially, broadband is vital for many businesses requiring a secure, reliable and faster connection in order to compete and trade.

“The Broadband East Riding Business Support Scheme will help eligible businesses get the most out of modern technology and embrace the opportunities presented by high-speed broadband.”

For 2015, Broadband East Riding has significantly expanded its workshop range from six to 18 workshops. These are being delivered in five primary locations across the area: Beverley, Driffield, Bridlington, Pocklington and Goole. Further workshop locations and topics may be added over the coming months.

In total, a minimum of 89 workshops are scheduled to run during 2015 aiming to provide further learning for the businesses already engaged with the project and to deliver a more extensive package of support to hundreds more businesses within the East Riding.

These workshops not only help boost growth but enable firms in the area to work smarter and more efficiently, increasing competitiveness of local businesses versus others who are not taking advantage of today’s connected world.

The use of social media within business remains a key focus of the workshops, as harnessing the power of these networks gives businesses a typically low cost opportunity to spread their brand, reach new audiences and connect with their customers with more impact.

There are now a total of 10 social media workshops, including masterclasses for specific platforms, an introduction to some of the alternative social media sites available, plus a workshop explaining the legalities of social media in business.

For businesses looking to improve their online presence, workshops are available providing understanding on the topics of Google Analytics, WordPress and Search Engine Optimisation. Armed with this knowledge, businesses will become better equipped to analyse and improve the performance of their websites, to feature higher up in search results and to get more traffic and better understand how to turn hits into customers.

Businesses can also learn more about other digital marketing methods, such as online video content, blogging, email and pay-per-click advertising campaigns.

The popular cloud computing workshop is also returning, giving businesses insight into how they can reduce risk, save time and cut costs with cloud services.

Businesses have also been supported directly by the council’s dedicated broadband business advisor who has been helping businesses identify key areas to strengthen via better use of being connected and discussing specific digital issues.

Workshops are entirely free for businesses to attend, as the project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  

Broadband East Riding is a £14million partnership between the council and contractor BT and is funded by grants from BDUK, £5.5m, and The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), £4.4m, along with investment from BT and the council.

More information about workshops and eligibility is available at www.broadband.eastriding.gov.uk/workshops