Launchpad Southend

Social Media Content Playbook – What to Post, When to Post, and How to Engage
2025-04-09 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
Struggling for social media ideas? Not sure what to post or how to turn likes into real engagement?
Join Sam Flynn in this one hour session, hosted by Small Business Britain and BT Digital Skills, where you’ll learn how to create a content strategy that works.
You’ll learn: – What kinds of content are engaging and driving growth
-How to time your posts to reach most people
–How to create meaningful relationships with your audience
Whether you’re just starting out with social media or need to rethink your strategy, this webinar will give you clear, practical steps to get social media to work for your business.
Don’t miss out—register now!
About Sam: Sam is a digital wellbeing and social media coach, trainer, and speaker with 14 years of experience. Sam helps businesses grow through social media while addressing the challenges of the digital world. Specialising in digital culture, Sam supports businesses in boosting productivity and employee wellbeing by fostering healthier online habits and reducing smartphone overuse.
About BT Digital Skills: BT Digital Skills is partnering with Small Business Britain to deliver digital skills to small businesses across the UK.

Achieving Email Excellence Strategies for Successful Email Marketing
2025-04-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Email Marketing remains a cornerstone of digital communication, which when used effectively can elevate your brand, foster customer loyalty, and drive remarkable results.
In this 2-hour webinar, we will explore how email marketing can be a game-changer for your business, unravelling the secrets behind crafting compelling campaigns and how they seamlessly integrate into your overall marketing strategy.
Event details:
Time: 10 am – 12 pm
Location: Online (ZOOM)
Cost: £30pp
Throughout this webinar, we’ll cover essential topics such as:

Building a Solid Foundation: Learn the fundamentals of email marketing, from creating subscriber lists to segmenting your audience for targeted messaging.

The Legal Bits: Get an understanding of the legalities of email marketing including Marketing Consent (GDPR) and Unsubscribes.

Crafting Irresistible Content: Dive deep into the art of crafting emails that captivate your audience.

Automation and Personalization: Explore the power of automation to streamline your email campaigns and the art of personalization to create a tailored experience for each recipient.

The Customer Journey: Learn how to utilise email marketing for more than just conversion. Nurture your customers and create touch points to improve customer engagement.

Analytics and Optimization: Learn how to track and interpret key metrics, identify areas for improvement, and optimize your campaigns for maximum impact.

Get ready to revolutionize your approach to email marketing and unlock the full potential of email marketing for your business!

Meet the Host:
Stacey Pretty – Marketing Director, Let’s Do Marketing

Stacey is the Marketing Director of Let’s Do Marketing, a marketing consultancy and services agency which is tailored to specifically support new and small businesses with organising and fulfilling their marketing ideas. With over 17 years of marketing experience, working in both B2B and B2C environments, Stacey has extensive experience in managing, creating, and promoting a variety of products and services using both online and offline marketing tools. Understanding the challenges faced by new and small businesses, Stacey seeks to simplify the complexities of marketing, with an approach focused on effectiveness and consistency, ensuring that every marketing effort translates into tangible results. For Stacey, marketing isn’t just about campaigns; it’s about building relationships and fostering an excellent customer experience.

The Art of Building Rapport and Trust in Sales
2025-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Trust drives customer loyalty. Rapport accelerates the sales process. In this practical and engaging webinar, we’ll show you how to master both.
Join Sales Geek as we unpack the art and science of building rapport and trust in sales — exploring how emotional intelligence, mirroring, and effective questioning create meaningful connections that shorten sales cycles and secure lasting customer relationships.
Whether you’re looking to improve your close rates, boost client retention, or simply become more confident in every conversation, this session will give you actionable techniques to take your sales performance to the next level.
Expect no fluff — just real-world strategies, practical tools, and plenty of Sales Geek energy.

Using Canva to Create Content
2025-04-29 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Want to learn how to create eye-catching and engaging graphics for your business? Join our Using Canva workshop to find out how to utilise the online graphic design platform Canva to make everything from your company branding to social media posts and more!
Event details:
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Online (ZOOM)
Cost: £25pp
In this course, we’ll cover everything from:

How to sign up and get set up on the platform

How to navigate Canva as a beginner

Creating a brand kit for your business

Creating a new graphic together for a campaign for a business

Walkthrough of all the basic features of Canva

Resizing designs to make posters and leaflets

As part of the live event of this workshop, we will also have a Questions and Answers session to finish this online workshop, where participants can ask specific questions about how to use Canva for their business.

Meet the Host:
Kerry Madge | Marketing Executive, Let’s Do Marketing

Kerry Madge is a dynamic Marketing Executive at Let’s Do Marketing, bringing nearly six years of diverse experience collaborating with businesses of all sizes. Holding a BA in Marketing Management, Kerry excels in social media advertising, graphic design, and copywriting. Her passion lies in crafting creative solutions and developing comprehensive marketing strategies that empower small businesses to visualise and achieve their overarching goals.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise: How to win in 2026
2025-04-30 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Essex businesses are invited to join us for a free webinar where you’ll gain invaluable tips and insights on how to win the UK’s most prestigious business award – The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026!
Essex is brimming with successful and innovative businesses, and The King’s Awards offer a unique opportunity to celebrate your achievements and gain special recognition for your hard work and dedication.
During this webinar, you’ll hear from past Essex based winners, who will share their experience of the application process, as well as touching on the tangible benefits to their business of winning a King’s Award.
📅 Date: Wednesday 30 April
🕒 Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
📌 Location: Online
The webinar will include:

Insider Information: Learn about the application process, including how long it will take and the ideal timeline
Expert Tips: Discover what the judges are looking for and how to present your business in the best possible light
Success Stories: Hear firsthand experiences from past winners across different categories
Q&A: Get your burning questions about the awards answered by our experts

Speakers include:

Chloe Palser, The King’s Awards Office
Alex Holliman, Managing Director of Climbing Trees, Winner for Sustainable Development in 2024
Steve Johnson, Chief Executive of Ipeco Holdings, Winner for Promoting Opportunity in 2024
Robert McGregor, Managing Director of Contamac, Winner for Innovation in 2016 and International Trade in 2012
Marcus Watson, Non-Executive Director of Ground Control, Winner for Innovation in 2021

Don’t miss this chance to take the first step towards winning The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026. Register now for our free webinar!

Devolution for Essex - What you need to know
2025-05-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Big changes are coming to Essex! With Essex selected for the government’s priority programme for devolution and local government reform, this is a critical moment for businesses, communities, and local leaders to understand what’s ahead.
What’s Changing?
🔹 A new Mayor for Essex – Election set for Spring 2026
🔹 A strategic authority combining Essex, Southend & Thurrock
🔹 Local government restructure – new unitary authorities by 2028
🔹 A streamlined approach for business and economic growth
At the Essex Chambers, we welcome these changes as they offer greater clarity, efficiency, and opportunities for local businesses. But what does it mean for you? Join our webinar to get the insights you need.
Why Attend?
✅ Hear expert analysis on what devolution means for Essex
✅ Understand how these changes will impact businesses & communities
✅ Have your questions answered in a live Q&A session
Date: Thursday 1 May 10.00am – 11.00am
Platform: Zoom
Cost: FREE for Members – Non-Members £25.00 + VAT
Stay informed and get ahead of the upcoming changes.

Build Your Brand - How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market
2025-05-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
In a crowded marketplace, a strong brand is your biggest asset! Join Small Business Britain, BT Digital Skills, and branding expert Stacey Kehoe for a webinar to help you define your brand, highlight its unique value, and build meaningful customer relationships.
Learn how to set your business apart and make a lasting impact—all without a large budget.
You’ll gain:
– Insights into the key elements that make a brand stand out and how to shape your own identity.
– Practical tips for crafting compelling stories and messages that resonate with your audience.
– Cost-effective strategies to boost your brand’s visibility and cultivate long-term customer loyalty.
About Stacey: Stacey Kehoe, founder of Brandlective Communications, has worked in digital marketing and brand development for the last ten years. She’s a podcast host and editor of the SME marketing magazine The Vault, which has gained her media recognition and award nominations.
About BT Digital Skills: BT Digital Skills is partnering with Small Business Britain to deliver digital skills to small businesses across the UK.

SEO for Summer: How to Get Your Business Found on Google
2025-06-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
Sunshine’s coming, and so are the customers! Everyone’s hitting Google to find the best summer deals – are they finding you?
Don’t let your business get lost in the holiday crowds. We’re showing you how to make sure your website pops up right when people are searching for what you offer.
Join Small Business Britain, BT Digital Skills, and SEO whiz Mark Tomkins (Aubergine) for a webinar where we’ll skip the techy talk and get straight to practical tips on how to: – Find the words your customers actually use when searching.
– Make your website irresistible to Google (and those customers!).
– See what’s working (and what’s not) so you can keep your summer sales sizzling.
Let’s make this your best summer yet!
Meet the expert: Mark Tomkins is the director of Aubergine , a web agency specialising in helping small businesses grow their online presence. With over 30 years of experience in web design ,development, SEO, and digital strategy, Mark has a proven track record of helping companies improve their visibility on Google and drive organic traffic to their websites. At Aubergine, he leads a team dedicated to delivering effective websites that enhance search engine rankings and overall web performance.
Mark’s expertise in SEO and user journey best practices, combined with his passion for helping small businesses thrive in the competitive online landscape, makes him a trusted & knowledgeable advisor. In this upcoming webinar, he will share invaluable insights and actionable techniques in non-techie language that small business owners can use to boost their websites’ search engine visibility and ultimately grow their business online. About BT Digital Skills: BT Digital Skills is partnering with Small Business Britain to deliver digital skills to small businesses across the UK.

Get Found, Get Clicked, Get Customers: Making LinkedIn Work for Your Business
2025-07-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Webinar
Join Small Business Britain, BT Digital Skills, and LinkedIn expert Ashley Leeds for a practical, confidence-boosting session for small business owners who want to get more out of LinkedIn.
In this webinar, you’ll learn:
– The 3 things small businesses are getting wrong on LinkedIn (and how to fix them fast)
– Profile power moves
– how to turn your profile into a mini sales page
– Easy content ideas that build trust and drive traffic
– How to show up in just 15 minutes a day (and why it works)
– The secret to connecting with the right people (without feeling salesy)
Expect actionable tips, relatable examples, and plenty of support to help you get started or level up your LinkedIn game.
You’ll also receive a free resource pack to keep the momentum going after the session.
About Ashley: Ashley Leeds, the ‘15-Minute Guy,’ is a LinkedIn expert, coach, and speaker who helps professionals build confidence and visibility—all in just 15 minutes a day. Having once struggled with self-doubt and feeling invisible,
Ashley knows first-hand how powerful it is to finally start showing up authentically. His approach is simple, relatable, and proven to get results. He’s helped hundreds of professionals transform their LinkedIn presence, including speaking internationally at Accountex Canada, inspiring others to embrace LinkedIn with confidence.
About BT Digital Skills: BT Digital Skills is partnering with Small Business Britain to deliver digital skills to small businesses across the UK.

Understanding different types of business finance
2025-10-04 11:00 - 12:00 | Webinar
With a host of free nationwide and regional in-person events, webinars and more, Business Finance Week helps smaller businesses learn about the different finance options that may be available to them to support their individual needs.
Join the British Business Bank for a free webinar that explores the different types of finance available to smaller businesses across the UK.
From Equity investment to Debt finance, our experts will guide you through the characteristics of each, helping you find the right type of finance for your business needs.
This event will be delivered in partnership with UMI.
This event is aimed at individuals new to finance.

Speakers

TBC

Lunch and Learn: Building a loved local brand
2025-10-06 12:00 - 12:30 | Webinar
In this webinar, Teresa Ferreira, creative director and founder of Ferrgood Studio, shares some practical ways to cultivate a positive and beloved brand presence in your immediate local community.
Learn how to foster customer loyalty, increase footfall and drive sustainable growth.
Topics covered in this session

How to identify the key elements that contribute to a “loved” local brand that stands out on the high street

A simple framework for connecting with customers through storytelling, visuals and tone of voice

Budget-friendly ways to enhance shopfronts and digital channels

Other resources and tools you can use to build your brand

If you have any questions you’d like Teresa to answer during the webinar, please send them to events@enterprisenation.com.
How to join the online webinar
When you register for the webinar, you’ll receive an automatic email, including the Zoom link to access the event. The event will begin at the time and date stated in the registration information. If you don’t receive the link within two hours of signing up via Eventbrite, please let us know by emailing events@enterprisenation.com. (Note: It may be in your junk folder.)
About Enterprise Nation
Enterprise Nation is the UK’s most active small business network, helping thousands of people turn their good idea into a great business. Join today to get everything you need to start and grow your small business, in one place.

How to create a compelling business plan in numbers Event details
2025-10-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Webinar
Join our webinar designed to help you write a successful business plan in numbers.
Learn what makes a business plan compelling to investors and lenders and gain practical tips on how to present your vision and strategy effectively in numbers.
Aimed at start-ups and early-stage entrepreneurs, this session will equip you with the tools and insights to create a robust and persuasive business plan.
This webinar will be delivered in partnership with FundingHero Limited and Mercia Ventures.
This webinar is aimed at individuals new to finance.

Speakers

Jim Shirley, Founder, FundingHero Limited
Lewis Stringer, Senior Manager, UK Network – East and South-East Midlands, British Business Bank
Sandy Reid, Fund Principal, Mercia Ventures
