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Owners of small companies struggling to grow their businesses in the harsh economic climate are being thrown a free lifeline.

Southport College is launching a series of fully funded four-hour seminars aimed at showing how marketing strategies can be just as effective for smaller companies as well as big corporations.

Specifically designed for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the individual Marketing for Growth seminars cover a range of topics such as building customer relationships, management of the marketing mix, press and PR communications and copywriting.

These free seminars are led by Richard Choueke and Julian Desser, partners in local consultancy Gumtree Training, who between them have decades of first-hand experience in management, marketing and the media.

Richard successfully ran his own wholesale electronics company before becoming a senior lecturer in management, marketing and leadership then head of department at a local university, while Julian is a former national newspaper journalist, freelance editor and public relations consultant.

“The effects of the recession are still being felt in 2010 and owners of small companies especially are keen to discover ways of growing their businesses by marketing them more efficiently,” says Helen Eaton, Head of Employer Services at Southport College.

“Unfortunately, many don’t have the financial and other resources to employ specialist staff or use outside agencies”

“This short but very comprehensive Marketing For Growth seminar will provide them with an essential range of practical, tried-and-tested methods they can utilise immediately to achieve growth in their own organisations.”

The first two introductory fully-funded seminars are being held at Southport College Thursday, February 25 (4 pm to 8 pm) and Wednesday, March 31 (1 pm to 5 pm). There is no charge for the seminars and refreshments are included.

Places are limited and interest is expected to be high so business owners and managers wishing to attend are being advised to book early (contact the Employer Services team at Southport College on 0845 00 66 506)