Cathedral Quarter Businesses Boost Digital Skills
Businesses across Derby’s Cathedral Quarter will be attending a training workshop run by digital experts at Google as part of the area’s prize in the Great British High Street Awards.
The two-hour Google Digital Garage will be held at QUAD on Thursday May 11 and is free for businesses within the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) area.
The focus of the workshop will be on maximising a business’ digital presence by improving websites, social media, online video and Google My Business.
This will be followed by a session on reaching new customers online through search optimisation, local listings and search engine marketing.
Alice Mansergh, Director of Google Marketing Solutions for UK and Ireland, said: “Google's products and free digital training are a growth engine for people and businesses up and down the country.
“The Google Digital Garage represents an excellent opportunity for Cathedral Quarter businesses to talk to our experts who can help businesses connect to new customers and boost productivity no matter what field they work in.”
As part of last year’s Great British High Street awards, the BID has also received a cash prize of £5,000 for being voted the UK’s ‘Best City Location’. Businesses will shortly be consulted on a shortlist of options for how best to spend this money to benefit the area as a whole.
Martin Langsdale is chair of the Cathedral Management Group, which drives forward activities under the area’s BID status.
He said: “The Google Digital Garage will be a valuable tool for businesses of all sectors in the Cathedral Quarter from retail and leisure to professional services and cultural venues.
“It will also help us as a BID to look at how we can move forward with online marketing for the Cathedral Quarter as a whole – attracting more people into the area and complementing the work to secure further inward investment and development.”
Cathedral Quarter businesses are currently being consulted about their views on the future priorities for the area. Their views will shape the new business plan which will be launched in September with a postal ballot scheduled to take place in October.
In order for the BID to be renewed, more than 50% of the businesses who vote are required to register ‘Yes’ whilst those in favour also have to represent more than 50% of the combined ratable values of those who vote.
If successful, the new Cathedral Quarter BID programme will commence in March 2018.
The first Cathedral Quarter BID was launched in 2008 with businesses voting to renew and update the business plan in 2012.
Having originally been prompted by the launch of the Westfield (now Intu Derby) shopping Centre, the Cathedral Quarter has become established as a well-known brand and a high quality destination incorporating independent, regional and national businesses in retail, professional services, leisure and culture.
Businesses in the Cathedral Quarter can secure their place on the Google Digital Garage by mailing enquiries@derbycathedralquarter.co.uk
For more information about all the events and businesses in the Cathedral Quarter, please visit www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk; follow on Twitter @DerbyCQ and ‘like’ the Facebook page CathedralQuarterDerby