TV gadget man Jason Bradbury has launched a project aiming to boost digital skills in North East businesses.

Jason Bradbury, presenter of Channel 5's Gadget Show, visited Middlesbrough and Darlington to help launch the Government's Get Your Head Into Digital scheme, which offers five weeks of free workshops to get local businesses to use digital tools to grow and operate more effectively.

The project has been organised by Teesside University and the Tees Valley Business Compass, with funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and part-funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

Social media expert and inventor Mr Bradbury said: “In today’s digital world companies get a huge benefit from having strong online presence and the know-how to use it to the best business advantage.

“Yet despite a wealth of digital talent and excellence in this region, more than 4,000 small businesses in the Tees Valley have no effective digital presence and low or basic online skills.

“As a result they are missing a big opportunity – and Get Your Head Into Digital’s free workshops aim to put that right.”

The free workshops are being held in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington.

The first of the workshops is taking place at Tuned In, Redcar, on Monday (March 2).

The workshops will cover topics including social media, being found online and selling online.

For more information on the scheme and the workshops visit headintodigital.com or call 01642-384068.