Coming up in March through Cumbria Business Growth Hub we’ve got the below free training/webinars.
Tik Tok and Instagram for Business
Date: 1st March 2023
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Online
As of last year, 9 out of 10 adults in the UK owned a smartphone, but do you feel you’re using it to its full potential? We’ve come a long way since the days of Nokia 3310s and spending hours playing Snake. The modern smartphone is much more than just a computer in your pocket. It’s a communication tool, and video camera, a podcasting tool and more. In fact, more recent social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are almost exclusively populated by smartphones and tablet created content, meaning that little device you have in your pocket is key to your entire content marketing strategy.
In this interactive workshop, we will give you everything you need to make full use of your smartphone, to create an Instagram page, launch a TikTok channel and create your first video. If you think TikTok is all dance trends and young people, you couldn’t be more wrong! With the number of users expected to reach 10 million in the UK by the end of this year, it’s a platform that businesses cannot afford to ignore. This session is for businesses who’d like to get started on TikTok, or those who’d like to develop their digital marketing skills.
Contract of Employment-Tips and Pitfalls with Burnetts Solicitors LLP
Date: 2nd March 2023
Time: 9.30am to 10.30am
Venue: Online
Getting the first steps in an employment relationship is key. David will guide you through some of the common errors made by employers and outline key areas of consideration to ensure that you retain key staff and avoid litigation. An interactive session you will be provided with key tips and advice.
How to turn your expertise into an online course
Date: 14th March 2023
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: Online
Have you ever pondered on the idea of creating an online course, but don’t know where to start? This workshop will give you some insight on how to turn your expertise into an online course.
You will learn:
- How to adapt your knowledge and turn it into something you can teach other people
- How to structure your content into logical lessons
- Info on the main online platforms that allow you to deliver and sell your online courses
- How to launch a course and find an audience people willing to buy it
To book your place email info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk – eligibility criteria does apply.
Through our Business Start-Up Support programme, any new entrepreneur or business under three years of trading can book onto the below free training.
Writing the right content for your business
Date: Tuesday 14th February, 2023
Time: 9am to 1pm
Venue: Online
In this interactive and practical half day workshop entrepreneurs will learn ways to communicate the right message for their business through written materials published in print and in an increasingly online world.
The workshop includes:
- The importance of identifying the right messages for your business
- A brief guide to writing compelling copy for websites, e-marketing, corporate brochures and connecting with our customers through content marketing
- Hints and tips to ensure you write colourful and compelling copy
- What not to do – troubleshooting good and bad examples
- Brainstorming exercises to position your business most effectively
Social media strategy
Date: 21st February 2023
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Online
Social media has had an astounding impact on businesses over the last decade and the social revolution is continuing to skyrocket. With digital communication being front and centre in the customer journey, businesses must incorporate social media into their marketing strategies and harness the opportunity to engage with their target audiences. It all sounds so easy, but no doubt there are challenges when it comes to social media.
Who has the time? Or the resources? Who’s going to come up with content ideas? Who’s going to manage your accounts and keep an active presence? How will you know if your posts are having any impact? There are so many questions that need to be addressed in order to stay ahead of the curve, create great content and keep up with your target audience.
If you are new to using social media for business, or are wanting to improve the results you are seeing so far, this training course will be a valuable guide to helping you plan a social media strategy and explore the ideal social media platforms for your business, as well as how to implement your social media strategy and measure what’s working well and what to improve.
- The value of a social media strategy
- Setting SMARTER goals
- Learn where and who your audience are and how to target them
- Planning effectively & time saving tips
- Choosing the right social media platforms for your business
- Creating a content calendar
- How to keep track of your social media activity
- How to measure success on social media
Social media content to promote your business
Date: 8th March 2023
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: Online
37.4 million adults in the UK use Facebook on a regular basis; around 7 out of 10 Twitter users say they are more likely to buy from a brand they follow on Twitter. When used correctly, social media can be an effective tool in driving traffic to your website and growing your business, both online and offline. However, if the content on your social media pages doesn’t engage the user, there’s no reason for them to return and you may lose that prospect at the first hurdle.
This workshop is a hands-on, practical workshop in which you will learn to design engaging, attention grabbing content that will get you the attention your business deserves. From content development strategies to free content creation tools, you’ll leave this workshop with everything you need to take Social Media by storm.
By the end of this workshop you will know…
- How to optimise your social media pages
- How to connect with existing customers
- How to create content that attracts attention
- The online tools that will save you time and money
- Why a content publishing strategy is key to the success of your content
SEO Essentials – Strategies to Boost Your Organic Rankings
Date: 16th March 2023
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: Online
It’s all well and good having great products and services, but if no one can find your website when they are searching online, then you might be missing out on a lot of potential business. This is where SEO comes in.
There are various tactics you can employ to start to boost your position in search engines and get your website to appear higher up on platforms like Google. To do this successfully you need to understand how the search engines work, and how they decide which websites to rank the highest.
In this course you will learn the fundamentals of search engine optimisation plus the benefits of optimising your website and online content.
Course Content:
- Introduction to SEO
- What is search engine optimisation?
- Search engine algorithms – the basics of how platforms like Google work
- The benefits of ranking higher in Google (and other search engines relevant search engines)
- How do search engines work, and how are they used?
SEO tactics:
- On page SEO
- Finding out what your target audience are searching for in relation to your products/services
- Understanding keywords and how to use them
- Tips and tricks to boost organic ranking for your website
Build a website in a day
Date: 13th June 2023
Time: 10am to 3pm
Venue: Online
Almost half of the businesses in the UK are still without websites. With more people turning to Google to find the services and products, they are looking for many of these businesses that are missing the opportunities to be found. Having a website for your business or organisation means that you have the ability to communicate and promote your services 24 hours a day and to the entire world, but many worry about the expense and expertise required to get started online.
This one day WordPress Training workshop is designed to give complete beginners the skills they need to build and manage a website using the WordPress content management system.
By the end of this workshop you will know:
- How to register and setup a WordPress website
- What the difference between a post and a page is, and how to write them
- Handy plugins and widgets that will make your site more effective
- What premium themes and other paid-for options are available
- Simple promotional tips to stand out
To book your place email lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk or call 0844 257 84 50.
Cumbria Business Growth Hub Drop-in Sessions
Through the Growth Hub’s Business Start-Up Support programme we’re also holding a drop in session at Barclays Eagle Lab, the Bus Station in Whitehaven between 10am and 2pm on 15th February. Ideal for anyone interested in self-employment or those who have recently started a business, come along and talk to experts from the Growth Hub adviser team, Dodd & Co Accountants, Barclays Eagle Lab and Copeland Borough Council
More connectivity on a lower carbon future
14th February – 10am to 11.45am – online
Hear from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce board member Andrew Burrell who will discuss connectivity and digitalisation in Cumbria.
BT will discuss the new rollout and the challenges they are tackling in Cumbria from a sustainability perspective and what businesses can do to align their telecoms and connectivity to be more sustainable.
Gary Robertson of Eco will look at the impact of supply chain sustainability issues in the very near future under Scope 3.
To book email ellie@integrityoffice.co.uk
Managing Carbon to boost your business delivered by University of Central Lancashire
22nd February – 9:45am to 3:45pm – Carlisle Station Hotel, CA1 1QY
An innovative workshop on how to manage carbon and save the rising energy cost of your business.
Managing carbon to boost your business! Tickets, Wed 22 Feb 2023 at 09:45 | Eventbrite
Reset Restart Coffee & Network
24th March 10.30am to 11.30am – BIPC Cumbria, Carlisle Library
At this informal networking event we will be joined by Lesley Robinson, Head of Business Support at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce to share what help they can offer you as a business.
A chance to meet and share your journey with other like minded businesses as well as see what the BIPC could offer in the way of support.
Reset Restart Coffee & Network Tickets, Fri 24 Mar 2023 at 10:30 | Eventbrite
ECO I NW: Exploring the innovation needs of a sustainable future summit
30th March 2023 at Rheged, Redhills, Penrith CA11 0DQ
Join ECO I NW to celebrate and share the learning from the Eco-I NW project in Cumbria, and explore the topic of sustainable innovation.
Through short presentations you will look at innovation in a broader sense, acknowledging the technological innovation requirements of a sustainable future whilst focusing on behavioural innovation that seeks cohesive and efficient solutions. The event will also feature the first screening of a commissioned film on peatland restoration, highlighting the work of our PhD researcher Jack Brennand. Two workshop sessions will focus on data (research and facts) and narratives (stories and communication) as drivers of innovation/change.
ECO I NW be joined by author and TV presenter Simon Reeve for a conversation on sustainable innovation followed by a Q&A session.
ECO I NW: Exploring the Innovation Needs of a Sustainable Future summit
Department for International Trade
Intensive Foundation Courses
1st March – 1.3pm to 4pm – Intensive Foundation Course (Half-Day) Part 1 of 2 – Introduction to Export 1st (online)
3rd March 10.30am to 1pm – Intensive Foundation Course (Half-Day) Part 2 of 2 – Movement of Goods (online)
Core Foundation Modules – online
- 13th February – 2pm to 3pm – Pricing Strategy and Routes to Market
- 15th February – 10am to 11am – Customs Procedures (Part 2)
- 17th February – 2pm to 3pm – Getting Paid
- 20th February – 2pm to 3pm – Understanding Incoterms
- 22nd February – 10am to 11am – Export Controls
- 24th February – 2pm to 3pm – Selling Services Part 1
- 27th February – 2pm to 3pm Selling Services Part 2
Masterclasses – online
- 14th February – 11am to 12noon – Take Your Website to the World: Module 2 – Planning Your International Website Journey
- 23rd February – 11am to 12noon – Take Your Website to the World: Module 3 – Platform, Providers and Preparing Your Website Brief
- 1st March – 11am to 12noon – Take Your Website to the World: Module 4 – Creating and Adapting Content for an International Audience
- 9th March – 2pm to 3pm – Take Your Website to the World: Module 5 – Search Engines
- 16th March – 11am to 12noon – Take Your Website to the World: Module 6 – Increasing Website Traffic
- 23rd March – 2pm to 3pm – Take Your Website to the World: Module 7 – Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)
- 30th March – 2pm to 3pm – Take Your Website to the World: Module 8 – How to Track and Monitor your Website Analytics
eBay for Change introductory webinar
Could your social enterprise be part of eBay for Change? Join an introductory webinar to find out.
The eBay for Change programme covers three key areas:
Helping you to set up and grow on eBay.co.uk through an in-depth package of support. This includes specialist training and marketing activity—along with a range of promos and discounts.
Spreading the Social Enterprise and Fair Trade business model, starting with a focus on eBay businesses and expanding this more broadly over time.
Championing sector policy asks by working with political parties and key members of government to help the social enterprise sector to grow.
Since the programme launched in May 2021 around 250 social enterprises have become part of eBay for Change. Could your social enterprise be part of the future of eBay for Change?
The next group of enterprises to start training in April 2023 is being sought so if you have a product you can sell on eBay whether that’s donated items or a brand new product, choose your date and join to find out more.
Running on Thursday 16th February – 2pm or Wednesday 1st March – 10am or Tuesday 14th March – 6pm, click here to book your place