Member Article

250 Northumberland businesses to benefit from social media training initiative

Over 250 businesses across Northumberland are set to benefit from social media training, in an initiative delivered in partnership with the iNorthumberland Business Support Programme and Newcastle-based agency Sparkle Communications.

Working on behalf of Arch Digital, using funding from the European Regional Development Fund and Northumberland County Council, Sparkle Communications will deliver the training as part of an initiative to ensure businesses in Northumberland make the most of digital technologies.

The iNorthumberland Business Support programme also provides a £400 connection voucher to eligible businesses on completion of the programme, allowing them to upgrade to SuperFast Broadband for a year and take advantage of the new infrastructure which is being rolled out across the north east of England.

Nicola Little, director at Sparkle Communications, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working on the iNorthumberland Business Support programme. We’ve delivered similar social media training to over 500 business people in the last 12 months and know the success that they’ve achieved from tapping into the digital technology that’s out there.

“Once people really understand the value social media can bring to their business, they’re always keen to learn how to use it to its full potential.”

Other topics provided by the training programme include: cyber security, customer relationship management and online PR alongside a rich online resource available to tap into complimenting the master classes.

Tuesday 15 September will see Nicola join other trainers at Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club to deliver a Social Media Top Tips session at the iNorthumberland Digital Conference. Legendary fashion designer Wayne Hemingway MBE, co-founder of Red or Dead and multi-disciplinary designers Hemingway Designs will deliver a keynote address.

Dave Ledger, Arch Chair and Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, said “We firmly believe this programme will help the Northumberland economy to grow as businesses are supported to realise their full online potential.

“We are delighted to have Wayne Hemingway MBE to speak at our event and see the benefits businesses can receive by accessing our programme”.