Virtual workshops show Barnsley businesses how to boost online sales
The Editor
Barnsley businesses keen to start selling online, or sell more online, are invited to join a fully-funded six-week programme of workshops which aim to show them how.
The ‘how do?’ programme offers practical workshops and one-to-one consultations to help businesses either set up a new e-commerce function or improve an existing one. It is provided by Enterprising Barnsley via the Digital Media Centre (DMC).
More than 20 businesses are already involved in this rolling programme of support which runs until the end of March. New participants can join in now as ‘how do?’s virtual workshops can be accessed live, or viewed on-demand, at the participant’s convenience.
Workshops cover all aspects of how to sell products online, either via a company website, a platform like Amazon, a social media shop like Facebook or a quick delivery sales app like Uber. The expert-led sessions encompass online orders leading to deliveries or ‘click and collect’ fulfilment.
Cllr Tim Cheetham, cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “The Covid pandemic lockdowns demonstrated very clearly to many businesses the importance of having a good e-commerce profile.
“Whether selling online is the primary outlet for their products, or it’s there to support and enhance retail sales in a bricks and mortar store, the potential of e-commerce to reach more customers is enormous.
“The ‘how do?’ programme is already helping Barnsley businesses realise that potential and we’d like as many more as possible to sign up to these online workshops as part of their post-Covid business recovery plan.”
Some businesses are using the workshops to help draw up new e-commerce strategies, others to simply review and tweak their existing online function to boost sales.
‘how do?’ is one of seven Prioritised Recovery Projects, part of a £2 million economic investment, funded by Barnsley Council and Sheffield City Region. As part of Barnsley’s Economic Recovery Action Plan, these projects aim to help the local economy bounce back from Covid; and support people, businesses, traders, charities or community organisations to safeguard existing jobs as well as creating new jobs and businesses.
‘how do?’ is managed and delivered by Enterprise Growth Solutions Ltd (EGSL), based at Barnsley’s DMC, on behalf of Enterprising Barnsley.
The programme is open to sole traders, SMEs and social enterprises which sell products and are based in the Barnsley borough. Up to 12 workshops are open to all participants, and those with high growth potential may also be offered one-to-one consultations too. All sessions are delivered online via video link, and recorded versions may be watched on demand at any time.
Workshops cover subjects such as how to list on e-marketplaces, sell with Google shopping, use paid search marketing and integrate apps.
To find out more and apply to access the ‘how do?’ programme please see here and contact help@enterprisegrowthsolutions.co.uk with any queries.
