Digital skills training and social media tools worth over £400 are being offered free to local businesses so they can best utilise social media to increase sales.
Social media experts at Maybe* are providing digital skills training secured by North Kesteven District Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The project is aimed at helping local businesses, social enterprises and entrepreneurs in North Kesteven reach more customers and grow sales, by providing a range of interventions which build on their digital skills and capability.
The social media training and tools delivered by the team at Maybe* include everything from where to get started with social media through to advanced strategies on how to use Facebook ads to deliver winning sales tactics.
In comments invited by North Kesteven District Council last year on social media training to be provided through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, responders said they wished to see ‘how to promote products and services on social media’ covered as a top priority. Creating Facebook adverts, Instagram reels and engaging content were also highlighted as important.
In insights provided by Maybe*, 16% of local businesses in the District are active on social media against a UK average of 24.4%. Meanwhile, 79% of consumers in England say that they are spending more than seven hours a week on social media† and 85% say social media influenced their purchasing last year.
North Kesteven District Council Economic Development Manager Alan Gray said:
“There’s a fantastic range of local businesses and traders throughout the District - from hospitality, food and drink through to service-based businesses, arts and culture, heritage attractions and more.
Those active on social media often have a great presence online, and they strive to engage with customers both there and in person. Social media and all its algorithms and tools are ever-changing however, and so we hope this free training and advice will help businesses across the District generate further sales by boosting their activities online and discovering what else they can do using it.
That’s a great thing for those businesses, and could be impactful too for our high streets and centres by encouraging more people to visit and keep using them.”
CEO of Maybe* Polly Barnfield OBE said:
“It’s a privilege for Maybe* to be able to support the local business community in North Kesteven. We are enjoying working with these local businesses to help them use social media to connect with customers and improve their ability to reach new markets.”
Local businesses, social enterprises and entrepreneurs in North Kesteven can access the training and tools by signing up with Maybe* now.
Social media support in North Kesteven has received £36,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This will be utilised over a three-year period, starting with this tranche of Maybe* support, to help around 3,500 businesses across North Kesteven access social media tools and advice. The Council offers a whole range of business support in addition, including through its independent Business Support Advisor Phil Means. Phil can assist with start-up advice, business planning, grants and funding, development and skills, sales and marketing and can be reached on 07920 472671 or by email at phil_means@nkesteven.gov.uk
To stay up to date on this and more, you can follow @businessnk on Twitter.
You can also sign up for the Council’s Levelling Up newsletter coming soon and its Business NK newsletter both at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/stayconnected
Local businesses trading in North Kesteven are also invited to join the Council’s Business NK Facebook group for regular news and updates.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit GOV.UK
Maybe* is a social media marketing platform that collates social media content from 3.9 million UK businesses on a daily basis. Maybe* provides scheduling, engagement, listening, reporting and training tools that help businesses learn how to better connect with customers. Any business can get started for free www.maybetech.com. Maybe* is a partner on the UK Government's High Street Task Force which is a five-year project that supports High Street regeneration.
† Based on UK Consumer research conducted by Maybe* in 2022/23.