The University has secured funding to offer free and subsidised business support workshops and training to Southend-based businesses.

The programme, which will be running between now and March 2011, offers a range of workshops aimed at helping local companies boost their business.

Free workshops will be available to eligible businesses via the University's Business Hub in Southend and half-price courses will be offered by the University's Business and Management Training team and South Essex College.

The workshops, which are also open to not-for-profit, social enterprises and community enterprises, cover a range of topics including ‘effective e-mail campaigns, ‘sales success for all’ and ‘social media marketing’.

The project, supported by the East of England Development Agency and Southend Together, is designed to the responsive to the needs of Southend businesses, with workshops run by the Business Hub being specifically designed for this project.

By using funding from the Higher Education Innovation Fund to support the Southend Economic Participation Programme, the University secured a grant of up to £50,000 from the East of England Development Agency for this project. This will part-fund a project worth almost £100,000 to support growing businesses in Southend.

Julie Jones, Business Hub Manager at the University, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for Southend businesses to benefit from a wide range of free and half price workshops to help sustain and grow their businesses.’

For further information please go to http://www.essex.ac.uk/ads/businesssupport

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For more details please contact the University of Essex Communications Office on 01206 872400 or e-mail comms@essex.ac.uk