Limited places remain on Keele University’s Digital Advisor project – designed to provide local small and medium-sized enterprises with 40 hours of digital support at zero cost.
The project places a Keele student or graduate into an organisation to work as an Advisor on a bespoke project to build digital capacity and capabilities within the business.
Offering an array of digital skills from social media support and market trend analysis to website development and more, the Digital Advisor team work to match an Advisor to each organisation’s bespoke project, with the work often carried out virtually.
One organisation that has benefited from the initiative, that was launched in May 2022, is The National Training Academy, which was looking for support in implementing a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
Through the Digital Advisor project, a current Keele student worked to explore and test the system, creating a practical report showcasing its capabilities and working to aid its implementation.
Director Maxine Clarke said: “The programme enabled us to get some really important work done. We had the knowledge and expertise of a young person who has the skills we required on a short-term basis.”
Keele’s Business Engagement Manager Philippa Richardson said: “All businesses thrive on talent, and this is what our Keele community generates. The project offers a chance to trial new ideas and further develop existing ones, all without longer term commitment.
“We have seen the 40 hours deliver valuable contributions in many different work areas, and the hours be utilised by businesses to assess the need for new job roles within the organisation.”
Part-funded through a suite of funders including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the project has limited places remaining before the funding ends.
To find out more or discuss your needs, visit https://www.keele.ac.uk/business/businesssupport/digital/digitaladvisorprojects/.
