Businesses encouraged to do things by the (Face) book

The workshop, run by the University’s Research, Business and Innovation (RBI) team, will show how social media can be used to boost the profiles and profits of regional businesses.

The sessions, run jointly by Northumbria University, Say Consultancy, Harlands, and The Institute of Directors, cover the role of social media in building business relationships and increasing marketing capacity. They are part of a series of in-house seminars that Northumbria University is providing for local businesses.

Northumbria’s Commercialisation Manager, Graham Hopson, said: “The workshops will explore and explode different types of social media and look at the business benefits that can come from having a social media policy within an organisation. Through practical demonstrations, full explanation of the potential of each piece of software and actual case studies, attendees will get the opportunity to set up their own social media platform and other accounts that will improve their business.

“The expertise housed within the University can now be accessed in a number of ways by businesses, often with funding opportunities attached.”

Attendees to the workshop, next month, will learn how to launch a social media platform that can coordinate their LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Blog sites. The course examines how social media sites can be used as a key tool in marketing the business by driving more internet traffic to an organisation’s website. It also teaches participants how data can be analysed to target specific markets and build business contacts.

Lucy Winskell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Region, Engagement and Partnerships, said: “Northumbria University is a business-focused and outward-looking organisation which plays a vital role in economic regeneration, culture and society.

“Events like these are important in helping companies to draw benefit from working in partnership with Higher Education.”

The seminars are just one way that Northumbria University benefits businesses in the North East. The University was the first in the region to adopt Business Link’s Innovation Voucher scheme, which allows small and medium-sized enterprises to purchase a voucher that provides them with support and training from experts at Northumbria.

The workshops take place on Tuesday 14th September in Northumbria University’s Sutherland Building. Attendees have the choice of signing up to either the morning (9.30am-12.30pm) or afternoon session (1.30pm-4.30pm).

Those interested in attending can reserve a place by completing a registration form at http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/businessevent or call 0191 243 7391.