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Council helps local businesses to start trading online

Working to support local businesses that cannot yet trade online, Horsham District Council has partnered with local company Screen Social to offer a discounted opportunity to set up traders online quickly and simply over the next three months.

Recognising the urgency for some traders to start offering their product and services online as a result of Covid-19 restrictions the Council is funding the complete set up of ten new online ‘Pod Shop stores’ on a first come first served basis.

This initiative forms part of the Council’s overall ‘Buy Local’ campaign, encouraging local people to buy from local suppliers to boost the Horsham District economy at this time. It also builds on its launch of the new shopping portal:

www.VirtualHorsham.co.uk , where buyers can easily find local businesses already trading successfully online.

Supporting the new Pod Shops, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy, Cllr Paul Clarke said:

‘As a council, we remain fully committed to our high streets but recognise that an online presence is now a vital means of generating turnover for all types of businesses. This year has accelerated internet use by the public through necessity and we want to assist our independents to have effective channels to retain local purchasers in this global shopping environment that trades without boundaries 24/7, 365 days a year.’

Mike Frater, owner of Screen Social commented: ‘Helping local independents to start taking advantage of online trading and marketing is vital both now and in the future. The online Pod Shop is potentially a life line for those not already trading online.’

Full details of how to access the Pod Shop offer are here:

https://coupon.screensocial.uk/p/k1gk6w

Pod Shop is one of many routes available to businesses to set up an online presence. Look out for the online training workshops as part of our Market Towns Programme delivered by Chichester College Group. Find out more and enrol your business

Alternatively, email: business.development@horsham.gov.uk for more information.
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