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DDEP announces the launch of its latest campaign:
On Friday 11 July Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DDEP) launches ‘Derbyshire – Well Connected’, a new campaign to help businesses of all types and sizes exploit broadband and other forms of information technology.
The campaign includes an advice-line and website: www.derbyshire-wellconnected.co.uk, both of which go live on Friday. In addition events throughout the year will be designed to help Derbyshire become better connected. The ultimate aim of ‘Derbyshire – Well Connected’ campaign is to ensure that Derbyshire is geared up for economic success.
Kevin Edwards, Chief Executive of DDEP, said: “The campaign has been designed to better the economy of Derbyshire as a whole, through improving the productivity and efficiency of large or small, urban or rural businesses alike. Internet and mobile technology can help to make any business or enterprise more efficient and better equipped for success. Whether you run a bed and breakfast, own a large hotel, a farm shop or an office based company; it will be to your advantage to sit up and take notice of the benefits that ICT can make to your business.”
The most recent E-Adoption Survey carried out by EMDA revealed that 60% of businesses in the East Midlands that already sell online, expect their sales to increase over the next 12 months and in 9 out of 10 sectors, more than 50% of recent process innovations were linked to ICT.
DDEP is encouraging businesses all across Derbyshire – large or small – to visit the website or call the advice-line to explore how broadband and communications technology could help improve on many fronts, from customer service, to staff retention and right through to the bottom line. The campaign includes possible grants for businesses in the area who want to improve the way they do business by using the web and other ICT.
Advice available for businesses will range from basic information for small companies just teetering on the brink of developing a website, right through to solutions for big firms looking to make cost savings. Some may want advice on Flexi-working; putting in place the technology and processes necessary for employees that live rurally to work from home. Others might be considering E-commerce and need practical pointers about trading online or setting up an online booking service. For others still, it might be a question of investing in the right web-marketing to insure a website can easily be found by potential customers.
Kevin is keen to encourage all businesses to get involved: “If we want Derbyshire to be a prosperous county, we must take action. Practical help is now at hand, so I urge you to look at your business and ask ‘how can modern technology help me?’
Libba Jones, owner of Mimu, an online e commerce business which sells unique, decorative hand crafted accessories for women, has embraced ICT to help improve her business: “The ICT training courses I attended have been of extremely high quality. They have enabled me - together with my website provider - to see considerable improvements in website visitors and sales.
“A professional interactive and dynamic website is, in my view a key ingredient to being a successful business in today’s society. It provides a level playing field, meaning that an SME like Mimu providing a high quality range of beautiful accessories can compete equally with well known UK brands. We appear like a big city based company whilst operating from the very rural Peak District!”
Kevin Edwards commented: “Like Mimu, a company may already have embraced new technologies wholeheartedly or be a ‘beginner’, wondering what the fuss is all about. Whichever applies, Derbyshire-based businesses can now make the most of the practical advice, insider knowledge and access to grant funding that I am delighted DDEP is now able to offer through Derbyshire - Well Connected.”
To find out more about Derbyshire – Well Connected, visit the campaign website: www.derbyshire-wellconnected.co.uk or call the advice-line: 0845 058 6644
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For interviews, case studies or supporting imagery please contact Bridget Taylor, Tracey Warmington or Kirsty Shaw at BOTTLE PR on 01865 882988 or email to
Notes to Editors
About Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership
The Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DDEP) is one of seven Sub-regional Strategic Partnerships (SSPs) set up by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in 2003.
Its aim is to stimulate, develop and bring forward a range of sustainable economic opportunities in Derby and Derbyshire and improve the prosperity and overall environment for businesses, communities, individuals and visitors.
DDEP's region covers the City of Derby and the borough and district councils of Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak and South Derbyshire.
For further information visit www.ddep.co.uk
Derbyshire - Well Connected website visit www.derbyshire-wellconnected.co.uk
Derbyshire - Well Connected advice-line 0845 058 6644
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