The digital age is well and truly here, and it has never been more important for businesses to make the most of the internet.

And now, thanks to Lincolnshire County Council’s onlincolnshire project, those working in South Holland have the chance to access free masterclasses in using technology and improving their business practices. One-to-one advice and support is also being offered.

A free awareness session is being held on at the Broad Street Business Centre in Spalding between 8.30am and 11.15am on Thursday 20th February 2014. People can sign up for the business support following the session.

The masterclasses will range from selling over the internet and integrating social media into your marketing plan, to making your business more responsive and making better use of staff both in and out of the office.

The event starts at 8.30am and includes breakfast and networking opportunities before ending at 11.15am.

Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Embracing new technology and the way it can help your business prosper is something that all of us need to be doing.

“This awareness session is ideal for any business looking to find out about the potential uses of the internet and how it can directly benefit them. The masterclasses will be delivered by experts in their field and will give delegates real skills which can then be used to boost their business.

“We won’t be using any techy jargon, so you don’t need to be an expert in IT to attend. We’d like to see as many businesses as possible take up this opportunity.”

The event is open to all businesses in South Holland and is part of a wider project of support across Lincolnshire and Rutland announced by onlincolnshire last week. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

To book your place on this free awareness session please call 0300 80 80 120
or email: superfast@lincs-chamber.co.uk. Follow @onlincolnshire on Twitter and www.facebook.com/onlincolnshire to stay up-to-date with developments.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About onlincolnshire:

• onlincolnshire is a Lincolnshire County Council-run project which is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.

• In March 2013, the council signed a £48 million contract with BT to provide superfast broadband to at least 88% of county properties by 2016, with the remaining properties having access to at least of 2Mbps broadband. A further investment of £2.8 million was announced this month (February 2014) which has increased the number of properties to 89%.

• The contract with BT concentrates on an intervention area of over 150,000 premises where existing or planned commercial roll outs would not deliver superfast speeds.

• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf

• Some internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 7.6 Mbps, according to Ofcom.

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
cerri@weareshootingstar.co.uk
01522 528540
07985 143990
@CerriDelaney
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