Basepoint Folkestone’s Networking Hub generates new business leads for SMEs
Local businesses that attended Basepoint Folkestone’s latest “Networking Hub” learnt about the benefits of apprenticeships along with how to use social media for business. Event speakers were Kelly Huntington from K College, who advised that hiring apprentices could be one way in which small companies can help themselves whilst helping others. Kelly highlighted apprenticeships to be a preferred recruitment method for trainee staff, due to providing an immediate personal development programme with guided learning and support from the training provider, taking the pressure off business owners to teach.
Kelly was followed by Josh Whiten from Webscape, who examined social media and how to set appropriate strategies for its multiple uses, such as communication, customer service, branding and public relations. Josh also provided insight into how Google is now monitoring companies via social networking and how this can affect a company’s positioning on Google - the more you do on social networking sites e.g. Twitter, the higher your business appears in the rankings.
The Kent Channel Chamber also attended the event, with speaker, Peter Hobbs, talking about the different types of funding to assist businesses in the area to expand their businesses.
Lorraine May, centre manager at Basepoint Folkestone, commented: “This month’s Networking Hub was a great success and the topics discussed were very beneficial to all of our attendees. The event has already generated one fantastic business opportunity - one attendee, Sd’A Marketing, received an order for 10,000 leaflets through Twitter as a result of Josh’s insightful and helpful presentation.”
This month’s Networking Hub welcomed approximately 30 local business individuals who also took the opportunity to network, meet new people, generate new business – all for free.