FREE HELP TO PUT RURAL BUSINESSES ONLINE

Posted 30 January 2003

RURAL BUSINESSES ACROSS the West Midlands are to be offered free guidance and training to help them get online and make the most of their computers.

Harper Adams University College, near Newport, Shropshire, is offering free help with Internet and E-mail as part of an online service called onBusiness, set up to provide business support and guidance.

An exciting new resource for farms and rural businesses, onBusiness will include thousands of searchable contacts, access to information on initiatives and funding sources relevant to the rural economy, a news service, photo library, online training and more, completely free of charge.

Under the new initiative, a roaming IT adviser or ‘Circuit Rider’ will visit the business, set up the computer for the purposes of getting online and offer guidance and training in the use of e-mail and other programs, including the onBusiness service.

The onBusiness Circuit Rider for Shropshire, Franziska Fisken, said the aim of the initiative was to encourage rural enterprises to start using the internet and take advantage of the information and resources available online.

The offer is open until September 30, 2003. Businesses interested in finding out more, should contact Franziska Fisken on 01 952 815 296, E-mail: f.fisken@onbiz.org.uk or check out the website: www.onbiz.org.uk

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Notes to Editors: For further information, please contact Franziska Fisken at Harper Adams University College on 01 952 815 296, mobile 07952 285 276 or E-mail: f.fisken@onbiz.org.uk