Digital Expertise Offer at #godigital2013 Conference
News Release
31st January 2013
Experts on the internet, social media, newspapers and business development will speak at an event in March aimed at encouraging businesses to ‘go digital’ in 2013.
Organisers of the onlincolnshire Digital Conference have lined up international speaker Stephen Parry from Lloyd Parry, who has won awards for his creative business methods, along with Trefor Davies from Timico Technology Group, Jonathan Fitzgerald from Lincolnshire County Council’s communications team and Richard Duxbury from Lincolnshire Media, which publishes the Lincolnshire Echo.
The idea behind the event is to inform, engage and connect Lincolnshire businesses so they don’t get left behind the rest of the UK when superfast broadband arrives. It will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln on 13th March 2013.
Stephen, whose firm helps businesses across the globe embrace new technology and change the way they work to fully take advantage of it, will explain how companies can encourage their employees to be more creative and innovative.
“Super connectivity is the digital equivalent of the railway coming to town, providing new opportunities, new types of work and access to new markets,” said Stephen, who has received awards from the European Service Industry for the Best People Development Programme and a personal award for innovation and creativity.
“A new mind set and skill set is needed to ensure the technology works for the people and not the other way around.”
Richard’s talk is set to explain how the media industry has embraced the digital age to continue to be able to provide news and information to the local community.
He added: “Faced with significant challenges associated with how people are now accessing information, our multimedia approach really is growing our audience. The unrivalled reach of local people is only possible by constantly evolving the business and embracing new technologies.”
Trefor Davies is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Timico Technology Group. His blog trefor.net is one of the most widely read in the UK telecommunications industry and is often referenced by the UK media including the BBC, Telegraph and Guardian. Radio appearances include the BBC Radio4 Today Programme, 5 Live Breakfast and a number of BBC local radio stations. His talk will look at the technologies available and offer examples of how some Lincoln-based businesses have benefited from new digital services.
The council’s Strategic Communications and Digital Engagement Officer, Jonathan Fitzgerald, meanwhile will demonstrate the power of social media. He said: “Lincolnshire County Council has connected with its audiences using the power of different facets of social media. This talk won’t just be about how local government uses social media, but how any brand or business can make creative use of it.”
Delegates will get a chance to take part in a question and answer session with all the speakers.
Details of the keynote speaker have not yet been announced.
Lincolnshire County Councillor Kelly Smith, Executive Member for Finance and HR, said: “The county council will soon be rolling out first-class broadband across Lincolnshire. This conference will be a chance for businesses to find out more about the opportunities this will bring for them.
“Many businesses aren’t aware yet of how to take advantage of the digital services that come with better broadband, and the many commercial opportunities through improved efficiency, connection with customers and exposure to an expanding global market. Our aim with the conference is to change that.”
The conference is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and organised by digital specialists CDI Alliance on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.
Selected suppliers and Digital Business Cluster members will be invited to showcase and demonstrate their online and digital products and services to the delegates, highlighting the local knowledge, skill and expertise available within the county.
Further details about the conference, including the name of the keynote speaker, will be announced in the coming weeks, but people can keep up to date by visiting www.onlincolnshire.org, following @onlincolnshire and #godigital2013 on Twitter or by joining the onlincolnshire Business Support group on Linkedin.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
- onlincolnshire is a £57 million project run by Lincolnshire County Council which aims to provide broadband speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) for 90% of homes and businesses in the county, and a guaranteed 2Mbps for the remaining premises by 2015.
- onlincolnshire is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013
- 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.
- 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
- For more information visit www.onlincolnshire.org
- Trefor Davis is on the board of two major trade associations; the Internet Services Providers Association and Internet Telephony Services Providers Association. Visit www.timico.co.uk for more on the company and www.trefor.net to read Trefor Davis’ blog
Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney
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