Early Christmas Present For Exeter Businesses

Released 13 December 2004

Communications

Businesses in Exeter will be given an early Christmas present on Friday (17 December), with the expansion of the Exeter e-friendly website. Significant improvements have been made to the site, which will be available from Friday.

The Exeter e-friendly information technology initiative encourages businesses to harness their own potential to become more efficient and competitive. This initiative is the brainchild of the city's ICT (Information Communication Technology) Strategy Group, which draws its members from business, public and voluntary sectors.

Bob Challacombe, of BT, who is chair of the ICT Strategy Group, said: "We started this initiative with just a small web site and this has already attracted over 250 businesses to register and use the site. Our new style E-friendly website, offers businesses and other organisations access to free information, which in turn might be used to help drive economic growth and increased productivity".

"It provides a greater depth of information, reflecting developments and emergent issues in the field of IT. We also have over 75 links to other websites of interest and a glossary of computer terminology."

In addition, there are 35 questions and answers in the Frequently Asked Questions section. These include advice on setting up a website, how to protect a PC from viruses, how to find computer training and how broadband can help a business. It also has a searchable directory of businesses that either provide or extensively use IT in the city. The more organisations that register on the E-friendly website, the more effective it will be.

Cllr John Shepherd, Lead Councillor for Economy & Tourism said: "Exeter has been awarded the title of enterprise capital of the south west. As information technology is one of the fastest moving industries, we need to ensure that we are helping business to realise their potential to become more efficient and competitive."

"The expanded website demonstrates how partners across the city have continued to work together to provide their knowledge and expertise for the wider benefit of other organisations and enhance the provision of information for all users of ICT."

Adam Stone, MD of Rokk Media, who came up with the idea for "EXETER E-FRIENDLY" has developed the website.

Ends

Notes to editors: For more information contact Economy.

The City Council and the local business community place great emphasis on the use of information and communication technology to boost economic performance. To this end an ICT Strategy Group including partners from private, public and voluntary sector organisations was formed to devise ways of improving usage and understanding of ICT in the city.

One of the activities of the group has been the creation and development of the Exeter E-Friendly website. a website promoting the use of ICT, including a directory of companies committed to ICT (E-Friends), guidance about the application of new technologies such as Broadband, and information about improving IT skills.

Exeter E-Friendly has quickly become established as one of the most frequently visited sites on the Exeter City Council web server with almost 1,000 visits per month. The directory of E-Friends now includes over 250 companies, ranging from database specialists to dating agencies. Some of the largest businesses and organizations in the Exeter area have signed up to the scheme, including Exeter City Council, Exeter Rugby Club, Exeter City Football Club, Exeter Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Council for Voluntary Service, and the University of Exeter, along with numerous local small businesses.

The original Exeter E-Friendly website was launched in late 2002. As information technology is one of the fastest moving industries on the planet, the ICT Strategy Group decided to redesign and re-launch the site in order to:

Provide the website with a new look and feel

Provide a greater depth of information, reflecting developments and emergent issues in the field of IT

Raise the profile of E-Friendly to encourage more businesses and residents to become involved.

What has changed?

The new website includes:

A greater emphasis on information, education and advice, with a dedicated advice section including:

35 questions and answers in an FAQ section containing information on the internet, broadband, virus protection, IT training and computer equipment.

A glossary of computer terminology, containing definitions to over 140 terms.

Dozens of downloadable documents, either held on the E-Friendly website or linked documents on other websites.

Over 75 links out to other websites of interest.

A searchable directory of businesses that either provide or extensively use information technology in the city.

A more detailed news section, containing local and national news links, and science and technology news feeds.

Much greater flexibility and expansion potential than the original website.

How will it develop from here?

Exeter E-Friendly is not a closed book, and future developments in IT will be reflected on the website. The best way for businesses to get involved is to sign up to the e-business directory. As well as appearing on the directory, this also has the added benefits of allowing registered users to reuse the E-Friendly logo, and possibly become involved in future marketing and promotion of IT in the city.

The redesign of Exeter E-Friendly means that it will remain a source of information on IT for the city for many years to come, whilst continuing to extend in size and scope.