Get an e-business master class
Jul 24 2007 By Steve Pain, Technology Editor
Birmingham companies are being given the opportunity to learn how to benefit from e-business and profit from the internet thanks to a new master class set up by Business Link West Midlands, TIC and WSI.
"Moving to e-business", which will get under way in October, is part of the Market Maker scheme and will be hosted at a number of venues across the city centre.
Mal Purewal, a local member of WSI Internet Consultants, said: "Most small and medium sized businesses are unaware of how to avoid the common pitfalls of e-business, such as an out-of-date solution, difficult or costly to maintain, no accountability, no measurement of effectiveness, poor navigation, no compliance with accessibility requirements and no return on investment.
"Our objective at these classes is to interact with local businesses and educate them on how they can steer clear of these obstacles and ensure their web solutions make them money." The e-business master class programme is being carried out by ITS (WSI) with support from TIC and Business Link West Midlands.
It aims to educate participants on promoting their business and making profits through using the Internet effectively. Business owners, sales and marketing managers and individuals committed to exploring new methods of business promotion will all benefit from attending the workshops. Participants will receive
independent business advice through Business Link West Midlands' team of expert advisers and will be entitled to a free web-scan of their website from consultants.
Kul Sanghera, market development director at Business Link West Midlands, added: "The internet is a very powerful tool for companies and can help them win new orders and become more efficient and productive.
"With this in mind, we are delighted to join forces with WSI and TIC to provide a master class opportunity for entrepreneurs and growing firms.
"It is another example of our desire to work in partnership with the best providers of knowledge in the industry, an approach we hope to reciprocate in other specialist fields." Steve Smith, centre manager for interactive media at TIC, said: "Our skills, expertise and local presence, cover all aspects of internet marketing.
"From initial design and development of websites, through to various emarketing platforms, our solutions have helped many hundreds of businesses profit from the Internet around the region. I feel confident that participants in these workshops will benefit from interacting and engaging with the e-business programme they offer."
* For more information about 'Moving to e-Business Master-Classes' contact Gorav Bassi at Gorav.Bassi@tic.ac.uk or 0121 331 5400 or call Business Link West Midlands on 0845 113 1234.
