Key contact

Phil Wells
Head of ICT Cluster
Advantage West Midlands
T: 0121 503 3495
E: philipwells@advantagewm.co.uk

Related sites

The E-​business Support Directory is produced in collaboration with

West Midlands ICT Cluster

E-business Support Directory: Marketing support

Successful marketing of any small business is a key element is helping the business to grow and prosper. This section of the directory identifies projects and organisations that offer support to SME's with developing a marketing strategy and incorporating electronic marketing within it which includes the development of a web site to promote your business.

National B2B Centre

National B2B Centre logoThe internet can be used to promote your business more effectively to local or national customers or reach out to a global audience. We aim to maximise your opportunities, using your website and online marketing to increase awareness of your business. Our services guide you through website planning and improvement, search engine optimisation, and online marketing campaigns.

Consultants can perform a website assessment or take a more in-​depth analysis of your e-​marketing activities to identify where improvements to marketing your business could improve business performance. They can also provide advice on using the internet to market and promote your business.

e-​business Adoption

e-business adoption logo e-​Business Adoption helps small and medium-​sized businesses from the tourism, leisure and hospitality industries (as well as their supply chains) adopt internet technologies. It provides expert independent advice, training and consultancy to help your business take simple steps to implement e-​business solutions. It provides education and training events on e-​Business related areas. To be eligible for support businesses must be from the tourism and leisure industries, employ less than 250 employees and be based within the West Midlands.

 

Business Link West Midlands

Business LinkProvides a full range of support to businesses. Offers consultation, tools and a range of informative resources to assist businesses adopting e-​business technologies including website development, e-​commerce and e-​marketing.

Open Advantage

Educates and assists SMEs in all aspects of Open Source software offering a complete range of services from an introduction to open source software to helping clients develop their own bespoke and niche solutions. Provides a Centre of Excellence in open source software which can assist businesses adopt Open Source solutions to develop website development, e-​business, VOIP and other technologies.

Business Insight/​Best for Business

The website, operated by Business Insight at Birmingham Central Library, offers a range of information and fact sheets to support businesses in general, with specific support offered in the area of ICT and e-​commerce.

Business IT Guide

Business IT Guide logoThe Business IT Guide (the Guide) is an online tool designed to help smaller businesses in using ICT to improve efficiency and productivity. Guides are available for a range of business marketing activities including advice on setting up and managing a website; promoting a business using electronic technology; and selling online.

Business Initiative

Runs a one day workshop every other month covering e-​business, marketing, selling over the internet, and how to get started with a website which is free to people in North Staffordshire.

West Midlands Commerce Collaborative Marketplace

Provides free targeted marketing for engineering SMEs by providing them with an opportunity to develop an online web presence and collaborative workspaces.

Techmark Programme, University of Warwick Science Park

UWSP Techmark programme logoThe Techmark programme provides marketing support for small to medium companies from start up to maturity. It provides specialist marketing support on all aspects from 'what you say to customers' to strategic reviews as a unified process. The programme provides support from people who have extensive experience in ICT, engineering and innovative technologies and employ native French and German speakers to give immediate access to other markets.

Small Business Advice Service

Offers a free online enquiry service for businesses employing less than 10 people with advice available on developing a web presence, e-​commerce and online trading.

Find it in Sandwell

Aims to raise the profile of local businesses by providing an online trading forum with which businesses can promote their products/​services to potential suppliers, as well as posting opportunities for other local businesses to tender for businesses.It has over 2500 registered businesses from Sandwell and the wider Black Country region and has been successful in stimulating local businesses to tender and successfully win thousands of pounds worth of public and private sector contracts.

Media Content Lab

Media Content Lab logoOffers support to businesses to help make greater use of screen-​based media technologies to meet a broad range of business needs. With support from a number of funding streams the creative team has delivered a wide range of screen based media solutions to over 200 businesses within the West Midlands Region and can offer subsidised assistance to companies.

National Computing Centre

Provides advice and guidelines on various aspects of e-​business including sales and marketing.

Innovation Management Centre

Helps Staffordshire SMEs to employ e-​business technology and understand the opportunities offered by e-​business. It assists with the web site design process and teaches clients how to maintain their sites. It offers support and advice on developing and improving business web presence to help Staffordshire SMEs grow their business.

Women in Rural Enterprise

Offers business support to women in rural enterprise along with a website which provides articles and advice on a range of e-​business and related ICT technologies in support of business development, e-​commerce and website development.

Warwickshire County Council

Provides a programme of workshops to help you build your knowledge on topics including marketing.

Federation of Small Business (Coventry & Warwickshire)

Offers seminars and advice to small businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire on a range of business areas including e-​commerce, website development and e-​marketing.

Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Business Solutions programme

Provides business support in the form of seminars, workshops, industry briefings and networking opportunities and focuses on key business topics such e-​commerce and information technology alongside generic business subjects such as marketing, finance, sales, legislation. The Chamber also provides assistance in website and portal development through its e-​business services, it provides advice and consultancy to enable businesses to market themselves and trade via the web.

Black Country Chamber of Commerce

Offer services and support around e-​business ranging from business advice to e-​business events and training courses.  Offer low-​fee 'web development' services in conjunction with a third party supplier.

Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Runs a series of training events and seminars to help businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire with e-​commerce and e-​marketing.

North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Offers services and support around e-​business ranging from business advice to e-​business events and training courses.  Also offers low-​fee 'web development' services through a dedicated on-​line Enterprise Club.

Shell Livewire

Access to on-​line information and one-​to-​one access to specialist business advisers. The help offered covers all aspects of business, including marketing activities such as developing a website and e-​commerce. Support is aimed at young entrepreneurs aged 16-​30.

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