The ‘How to secure more deals through the strategic use of digital tools’ workshops will teach SME owners and managers how they can exploit invaluable digital tools – such as social media – in a strategic way to maximise sales opportunities and grow their brand recognition.

The sessions, held on Thursday 8 May and Thursday 22 May, at Daresbury Innovation Centre near Warrington in Cheshire, will also draw on real-life examples and will involve peer-to-peer discussion and reflection.

, from the School's Department of Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation, said: “Maintaining website and social media presence can be a challenge for small businesses.

“Although many owners and managers of small businesses will have a growing expertise in many areas of business, digital marketing is an area that is new and daunting to many.

“As the world around us becomes increasingly connected, it is more important than ever for businesses of all sizes – but particularly SMEs – to get to grips with the wide variety of digital marketing tools available if they are to raise their profile to the large audiences, and potential customers, that exist in the digital world.”

Speakers at the workshops include:

• Jackie Harris, who has worked in marketing and communications for some of the IT industry’s biggest names such as IBM, Hewlett Packard, BT, Lotus Software and Sun Microsystems.

• Andrew Armitage of digital agency Armitage Online. Andrew has worked with some of the region’s most high-profile companies and is ideally placed to develop digital strategies.

• Allan B Beaton who is one of the UK’s leading social media consultants working with organisations of all sizes. He was also the UK ambassador for Hootsuite – a Twitter management tool.

The workshops, which are delivered by Lancaster University Management School’s programme, are fully funded through the European Regional Development Fund and are free for SMEs to attend.

The events are eligible for North West business-to-business SMEs with a turnover of less than £45 million.

Places can be registered by contacting Jen Melling on ifg@lancaster.ac.uk or calling 01524 510769.