A PROJECT that aims to improve and increase digital activity across Stanley is to be featured in a nationwide campaign.

The Smart Stanley project aims to build a brand for the town, develop and launch a town centre website, improve Wi-Fi availability across the town centre and make it easier for visitors and shoppers to connect to the town digitally.

The scheme will be featured by Do It Digital, an independent, not-for-profit

campaign that focuses on promoting opportunities and assistance available to

small business owners.

It aims to support local businesses in developing multi-channel shopping opportunities, develop Smart Apps to support customer interaction and develop and deliver a programme of digital-focused support and training for small businesses across the centre.

Councillor Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “We’re committed to helping local businesses to thrive and Smart Stanley is one of a number of ways we’re supporting our high streets and town centres.

“As well as the website, which, when launched, will help businesses better connect with customers and attract new ones, we’ll also be offering local firms bite sized sessions on how they can make the most of the opportunities becoming more digital can provide.”

According to a report commissioned last year by domain hosts GoDaddy, 60 per

cent of businesses with five employees or less are not digitally engaged.

It is thought as many as 80,000 small businesses in the region are missing out on the potential benefits to their business of digital engagement.