Tourism businesses across Northumberland came together to celebrate English Tourism Week with a series of specialist workshops designed to boost skills, enhance marketing strategies, and drive business growth.
Hosted by Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) in collaboration with Visit Northumberland, the week-long event saw up to 40 businesses participate across four expert-led workshops, each tailored to the needs of the region’s tourism sector.
The workshops took place mainly online, with a Photography Workshop taking place at the stunning Hexham venue, The Sill. The Photography workshop led by RJM Photography, taught attendees how to capture high-quality images on their smart phones to showcase their businesses and Northumberland’s stunning landscapes to enhance their marketing.
Other business boosting workshops were led by programme favourites and industry experts Steven Parker - Phonetic Digital and Scott Goodacre – Scott Digital and covered topics, Tackling Technical SEO for Small Businesses, Achieving Marketing Actualisation Using Artificial Intelligence and Developing Your Marketing Strategy.
These “brilliant” workshops provided hands-on training, real-world insights, and valuable networking opportunities for tourism businesses looking to strengthen their digital presence and visitor engagement. A key highlight of the week was the interactive approach, allowing businesses to apply new skills in real-time and receive expert feedback. The success of the initiative reflects Northumberland’s ongoing commitment to supporting local businesses and maintaining its status as a leading UK tourist destination.
Andrew Fox, Chair of Visit Northumberland, said: "It was fantastic to see so many tourism businesses come together to learn and collaborate. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with businesses leaving the sessions feeling more confident and equipped with new strategies to grow their visitor base by improving their visitor experience."
Lucy Evermore, Programme Manager for NSBS said, "Tourism is at the heart of Northumberland’s economy, and initiatives like this help businesses stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market. We’re delighted with the turnout and look forward to continuing to support more businesses in the future."
NSBS also offers assistance to micro-small sized businesses across Northumberland. The experienced team and its range of experts work directly with businesses and individuals to help them start, grow, diversify, and sustain their ventures through workshops, 1-2-1 support and networking events across the county.
Eligible businesses can still access a Rural Capital Grant Investment Fund, which supports rural businesses with clear growth plans by providing capital investment to expand production capacity or diversify into new markets or products.
If you have any questions about the event or the Northumberland Small Business Service, please visit Northumberland Small Business Service or contact the team at business@businessnorthumberland.co.uk.
You can also learn more about upcoming events and workshops at www.northumberlandsmallbusiness.co.uk
The Northumberland Small Business Service (NSBS) is delivered by Northumberland County Council. The project is part funded by the North East Combined Authority and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund, with the North East Combined Authority as the lead authority.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
