E-business in the community
| Dates run: | June 2006 - March 2007 |
| Boroughs occupied: | Upper Lea Valley Objective 2 area |
| Statistics: | 25 bespoke websites created for small businesses |
| Funder: | UKTI / ERDF |
| Delivery Partners | O-Regen |
Websites are an excellent marketing tool, they create an image of your business, introduce yourself to partners and offer an easy way of reaching customers via e-commerce. However, despite such potential gains many small businesses remain e-illiterate.
To address this issue, GLE oneLondon ran a 12 month e-business pilot project for businesseses and organisations in some of London's poorest communities in the Upper Lea Valley Objective 2 area.
Key highlights:
- The programme offered entrepreneurs the opportunity to create their own website and also equipped them with the tools to maintain and develop their site in the future.
- The programme benefited not only those companies who previously had no web presence but those that already had a website, and could gain the opportunity to have part or the entire website translated into different languages. This allowed companies to pitch their products in overseas markets and, for those organisations working with ethnic minorities, allows them to reach their target beneficiaries.
The results:
In total the programme developed 25 websites, each offering bespoke solutions that focus specifically on the needs of individual businesses.
Case studies:
Numan Chaudhry, Mega Enterprises
Specialising in high-quality textiles, crystal glass and kitchen wear from Asia, Mega Enterprises hosts in-house product development, design and research teams, enabling custom-made products to be manufactured to suit the specific requirements of individual buyers. Numan started his business in 2005 and was looking to expand into the US. A website will help new international partners visualise his London-based company as well as continue selling his products to local customers. He said: “With our new website it will certainly be easier to approach a new market. Our customers will be able to visit in their own time.“
Zarghona Rassa, British Afghan Women’s Society (BAWS)
Afghan women living in London are culturally isolated and are often prevented from leaving their homes and engaging in outdoor activities. BAWS encourages Afghan women to enter British society by providing education and training opportunities from which they can improve their language, literacy and professional and employability skills. BAWS also provides interpreting and translating services to help women access a range of public services. To raise awareness of the BAWS services amongst the Afghan community the website needed to be in English and Persian so people can find their way to BAWS for support. Their website also encourages volunteers to join and raise more funding for their activities.
Our partners
GLE oneLondon worked with ICT skills delivery partner, O-Regen and the programme was supported by the European Regional Development Fund.
Contact us:
For more information about this past project, contact Ketevan on ketevan.m@gle.co.uk
