Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 10 July 2008

WORKINGTON businesses were shown how to sell their products over the internet at a workshop run by the University of Cumbria.

The workshop, ‘An Introduction to E-Commerce and On-line Selling’ was held, for the first time, last month at St Joseph’s Business and Enterprise College and proved popular with local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Its aim was to equip businesses with the latest IT and marketing skills to improve the area’s small and medium sized businesses.

The workshop, delivered by the University’s School of Business and Enterprise, was one of several business support projects running throughout Cumbria.

It marks the beginning of a partnership between the Workington business community and the University of Cumbria.

Sybil Worsley, business and enterprise manager at St Joseph’s, said: “St Joseph’s College is excited by the potential of working with the University to improve the higher level skills of businesses in the Workington area.

“We already work closely with the adult education centre on Needham Drive, and the University input is a welcome addition in providing higher level business skills for local companies of all sizes.”

Local business Colour Me Clodhoppers was one of several companies who attended.

Company owner, Lynne Hardman and her sister, IT consultant Catherine Fish, were delighted at the opportunity to access valuable business skills at a local venue.

Lynne said the workshop had made her more aware of the potential for online selling and of ways to use her website for marketing purposes.

The workshop was presented by Denise Clayton, a lecturer in ICT at the University.

For details of the workshops and short courses planned for later this year and all the business support projects, visit www.cumbria.ac.uk/business