THE Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has connected with Digital Boost, a freeonline platform, to provide essential digital advice, skills and guidance to grow smallbusinesses and charities.

The government-funded programme offers one-to-one expert mentoring support on 50 subjects including Branding, Digital Marketing, Customer Service, Infrastructure, DataAnalytics, Security and Data Protection, Payments and Money Management.

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership Deputy Chair and Chair of the Solent LEP's Business Task Force, SJ Hunt, said: “Digital Boost gives small businesses access tospecialists in the areas they need help with the most, whether that’s social media, cybersecurity, accounting - and many more.

"We're delighted to offer this programme to support theregion’s businesses, helping improve productivity, grow revenues, survive and thrive for amore prosperous future.

“Everybody who signs up can connect with expert mentors to focus on their unique needsand receive valuable advice on a wide range of business topics.

“It is an excellent way to strengthen your business’s digital presence and make a realpositive impact.”

Digital Boost also offers businesses a variety of masterclasses, courses and personalisedlearning recommendations, held online so they can be scheduled when convenient to thebusiness user.

Help for all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is just a few clicksaway by registering with the scheme.

Digital Boost managing director Karen Licurse said: “We are delighted to be working inpartnership with the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership to connect with as many smallbusinesses and charities as possible who could benefit from the programme.

“Digital Boost’s community of expert volunteers lookforward to helping participants learnabout and use digital more effectively so their organisations can grow and aid the UK’seconomic recovery."

Businesses can access the specific expertise they need to boost their business digitally,through the programme’s extensive provision of resources, specialist advisors, mentors andtraining opportunities.

This includes:

● Free, unlimited 1:1 online conversation with specialist mentors

● Fast answers to individual business questions

● Personalised guidance, objective feedback and ideas

● Workshops covering topics such as SEO, Facebook Ads and payment systems

● A free resource library.Digital Boost is run by the charity Founders4Schools and offers specialist volunteer mentorsfrom leading organisations such as Google, BT, Vodafone, Mastercard, Bloomberg, andmore, plus many expert freelancers and smaller organisations.

SMEs can access as many different mentors as they want to get the help they need, or meetwith the same mentor more than once.

Digital Boost is open to anyone who works at a small business or charity with fewer than 250 employees.

Register at https://www.digitalboost.org.ukFind out more athttps://youtu.be/GzK3vcPe7hk