Free Workshops from Social Media Guru

News release

29th October 2012

A social media guru whose aim is to get rural communities online will deliver free workshops on how using the Internet can help boost businesses in Lincolnshire.

John Popham has been brought in to help inspire businesses in East Lindsey, Boston and Lincoln as part of Lincolnshire County Council’s onlincolnshire campaign.

John is the Chief Executive of Citizens’ Interactive Broadcasting and developed #twicket –the world’s first live broadcast of a village cricket match which became a global phenomenon after Stephen Fry showed his support on Twitter.

The November Broadband Business Benefits workshops will help businesses understand the potential uses of the Internet, learn more about applications such as cloud computing, access new and free resources and learn how to put new skills into practice.

“The Internet is becoming an ever more important part of most people’s lives, and if you’re not online you’re missing out on so much,” said John, who is currently working to develop online tools for the Big Society initiative, including Big Society Wiki and a Big Society Social App Store.

“If your customers are online – and most of them will be – but you are not, you’re passing over the opportunity to reach out and connect with them. There are so many free tools, particularly social media platforms, you can use to engage with people, build your reputation and seek feedback.

“People tend to do business with people they know and trust. Companies should see the online world like a digital village where they can get to know their customers, and their customers can get to know and trust them.”
The sessions are part of work being carried out by CDI Alliance on behalf of the onlincolnshire project to build the campaign for better rural broadband in some of the more remote parts of the county. They are being financed with help from the European Regeneration and Development Fund (ERDF).

The first will offer an overview of broadband capability. Businesses will be asked to explain how they use the Internet and what difficulties they have faced in the past before hearing in more detail about the benefits including e-commerce, flexible working and online conferencing using tools such as Skype, Facetime and Google Talk.

The course will also offer advice on how you could book cheaper travel online, buy or sell products and keep in touch with staff and clients if you are without your mobile phone, and it will help participants through practical training sessions.

John added: “The sessions are aimed at all businesses and we’ll be doing some fun stuff, seeing how others have transformed their businesses through online use and helping people take those first steps themselves. Some people think the Internet is just for technology businesses, but all businesses need to be online these days, and all can benefit.”

The second session is due to look in depth at different options available for doing business online including cloud computing, banking and accounting, research, mobile apps and the different equipment and technology available.

The workshops will take place as follows:

• 8.30am to 11.30am on Monday 5th and Monday 26th November at Skegness Business Centre
• 1pm to 4pm on Monday 5th and Monday 26th November at Boston Enterprise Centre
• 9am to 12 noon on Thursday 8th and Tuesday 27th November at The Terrace in Lincoln
• 1pm to 4pm on Thursday 8th and Tuesday 27th November at Fairfield Enterprise Centre in Louth

To book a free place on the course visit www.onlincolnshire.org

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About onlincolnshire

• The Broadband Business Benefits workshops are part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013 and are part of the £57 million council-led onlincolnshire project 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 2Mpbs for the remaining premises by 2015.
• 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

About John Popham

• John’s career includes six years as Director of the South Yorkshire FE colleges’ consortium, four years as European funding advisor to the FE colleges of Yorkshire & the Humber and two years as Chair of Community Enterprise UK.
• More information can be found on his website at http://johnpopham.wordpress.com/

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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