Women-led firms to learn from digital skills

LOVE Digital, the Government-backed initiative that has launched in Devon and Somerset to enable women business owners to benefit from digital technology, is hosting a one-off digital conference showcasing the very best in technology to support new and growing women-led businesses. The event will also give attendees a rare chance to hear first hand from one of the UK’s female digital business leaders, Nicole Yershon, Director of Innovative Solutions at Ogilvy.

The LOVE Digital Conference, taking place at Exeter Racecourse on 6th March 2015 from 9.30am-4pm, is a free event for women business owners seeking to develop or grow their businesses, or women who are thinking of starting a business in Devon or Somerset, to help get their ideas off the ground.

Nicole Yershon will deliver an informative and engaging talk about how technology can transform the lives of women business owners, giving examples of her experience in the advertising industry.

Of the event, she said: “I am a mum of two and for many women, they are juggling being a mum with building a business. Technology can help, but only if it makes life bigger, better and faster. Women need their lives to be simple and the right technology can help them build their businesses.”

Event attendees will also have the chance to explore time saving technologies and to learn from other women-led businesses that have used technology to transform how they work. Also available on the day will be information about the Women’s Led Enterprise business support programme from Heart of the South West Business Support.

LOVE Digital is part of the ‘Get up to Speed’ programme designed to help businesses and communities across Devon and Somerset improve their computer and technology skills. The event is free to attend and is aimed at women-led businesses and women thinking of starting a business in Devon or Somerset. Further information about the event, and attendee registration, can be found at www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk/events.

The LOVE Digital initiative – financially backed by the Government Equalities Office – will also deliver free support and advice to female entrepreneurs at the following series of two-hour workshops taking place across the region. All events start at 10am and include lunch:

-          10th March 2015: The Watermark, Ivybridge
-          13th March 2015: The Hollies, Martock
-          17th March 2015: Taunton Racecourse
-          23rd March 2015: Beach Hotel, Minehead

At each event, women will receive expert advice on making use of the Cloud, learn top tips for e-marketing, discover the best platforms for selling online and explore handheld devices and applications to support their business functions.

Funding for the LOVE Digital programme has been secured via the national Women and Broadband Challenge Fund. This fund has been put in place to boost the capacity of broadband projects, to develop activity that encourages women-led businesses or potential female entrepreneurs to take advantage of superfast broadband and to expand or set up new businesses, including home-based businesses.