Over 250 Cheshire businesses attend digital masterclasses

Over 250 businesses in Cheshire, Warrington and Halton have taken part in masterclasses through the Digital Cheshire business support programme.

The fully-funded masterclasses launched in August 2021, alongside networking events and 1-to-1 business support to help organisations across Cheshire maximise their digital potential. Support covers a wide range of topics, including digital marketing and social media, e-commerce and data security.

The Digital Cheshire programme is part of the Connecting Cheshire partnership between the boroughs of Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Warrington and Halton, with 77 digital and in-person events having taken place over the last three years. Masterclasses have provided businesses across the region with the information, resources, and confidence to adapt and grow using digital tools.

Cllr Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said:

“As a partnership, we are delighted to see the success and take-up of the Digital Cheshire business support programme. 

“Due to the disruptions and changing demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted many businesses, being able to adapt our ways of delivery through a virtual and physical method, and still provide critical support to businesses, has been a key part of the project’s successes to date. 

“Seeing the success stories from the businesses that have taken part in the programme, in addition to the positive individual feedback following each masterclass, has also led to the decision that the Connecting Cheshire Partnership will continue providing a business support programme as part of our next phase of delivery.”

The European Regional Development Fund supported the Digital Cheshire programme, which is open to eligible small and medium sized enterprises within the Cheshire and Warrington sub-region. The scheme is now taking pre-registrations for businesses interested in taking part in future phases.