The Digital Advice Service launched last year after the founders identified there was a genuine need for SMEs to get access to solid, honest advice on their digital strategy, maximising its potential to create a better digital footprint and improve sales.
Founded by three local entrepreneurs, Sam Parnell, Abi Turner and Kate Baines, they could see a trend in poor use of digital and that business owners didn’t need to become experts, but better educated to make informed business decisions focused on their digital strategy.
In collaboration with Ipswich Borough Council and fully funded by Suffolk Growth Partnership, the Digital Strategy Advice Programme was launched in late 2021.
The team at Digital Advice Service have been engaging with independent businesses in Ipswich to work with them on improving their digital footprint. The programme is designed to suit the digital needs of each business they work with on a case-by-case basis.
Enrolees will receive one-to-one mentoring, a digital diagnostic of their online presence, what they can improve upon, and learn how to grow their business through digital. This can be anything from utilising social media more effectively, improving their website, to more complex needs such as using software for better operational or eCommerce performance.
The programme is open to all industry sectors, the main criteria for enrolment being that the business is an independent based in Ipswich.
The last few years have been incredibly tough on a number of businesses, none more so than the high street. Independent retailers really needed to take stock of how to pivot and create sales in new ways and learn fast how digital can help them.
Cathy Frost, owner & founder of Loveone, a long-standing retailer of unique gifts and homeware based in Ipswich, has recently completed her digital journey with her dedicated advisor Abi Turner.
She really felt the benefits of understanding and learning more about how digital can help grow her business for a sustainable future. Cathy came to the programme with a strategic aim to build her confidence with digital, but to also focus on having a more effective digital strategy. Cathy has come away from the programme with the tools to help her implement an action plan to enhance her current digital footprint.
“As a relative novice at all things digital it was a very valuable experience to have a one-to-one mentor. Abi was able to explain and expand on ideas that I had little understanding of. She was encouraging and non-judgemental, I now feel that digital is less of a black art and feel more confident in using it but also how it can help me be more productive in my business.” Cathy Frost, Loveone.
A key highlight for Cathy was being helped by Abi to think more strategically about digital.
Abi Turner, Co-Founder of Digital Advice Service and highly experienced Advisor on all things digital, thoroughly enjoyed working with Cathy. “It has been a real pleasure to work with Cathy and see her confidence not only grow but flourish. I saw a noticeable change in Cathy throughout the programme, what stood out to me towards the end of the programme was how much she looked re-energised to take on digital headfirst and use it to her benefit.”
The programme is limited to 70 Ipswich businesses at this current time, with spaces filling up fast. The Programme will continue to run until towards the end of 2022, if you are an Ipswich based independent business wanting to learn more about how digital can help your business be more resilient in the current climate, please get in touch with the team at Digital Advice Service at info@digitaladviceservce.co.uk or visit their website at www.digitaladviceservice.co.uk
