Digital Entreprise Top 100 business owners Helen Reynolds and Jackie Black

Two businesses from the same York business hub have been listed in the Digital Enterprise Top 100, which recognises the region’s most digitally innovative businesses.

Ink Gardener Copywriting and Digital Business Communication both feature in a special report celebrating 100 companies in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire who have boosted their success through investing in digital skills and technology. The businesses are members of Hiscox York Business Club, set up by the insurance firm to nurture and help the city’s small businesses.

“Being selected for the Digital Enterprise Top 100 means so much,” says Ink Gardener Copywriting’s founder Helen Reynolds. “I love writing Google-friendly content, pruning overgrown websites and coaching UK heritage, hospitality and small businesses with their social media. The digital revolution truly allows business owners to compete on a global stage. It’s a privilege to help them get the most out of their websites and digital presence. However it is a fast-moving environment which means the training offered by Digital Enterprise programme has been invaluable.

I’m not a flashy start-up or a giant corporate, so it was a lovely surprise to be recognised as making a difference to the business community, alongside so many other innovative companies.”

“Being listed in the Digital Enterprise Top 100 report means a great deal to me,” says Digital Business Communication Director Jackie Black. “It can still be a real struggle to get larger businesses to recognise the benefits of investing in soft skills training like virtual team communication. This is despite the fact that improved online communication can boost productivity, bring teams closer together and reduce the risk of misunderstanding.

I was lucky to have been chosen as one of the programme’s Digital Champions which meant that I had the chance to mentor some of the other businesses, as well as attend many of the workshops on offer. It was great to be able to share my knowledge of working in a digital world with people who were very new to it; exploring the ways webinars can be used by small businesses to promote a service, advising trainers on what equipment they need for online training and helping business owners to write more effective emails.”

The Top 100 is an initiative launched by Digital Enterprise. This public-private partnership programme promotes economic growth through digital transformation. It is run and supported by the European Regional Development Fund, Northern Powerhouse and the nine local authorities, including York, that make up the Leeds city region.

“Freelancers often don’t qualify for training and improvement schemes as we’re deemed to be too small,” adds Helen. “I’d urge all my fellow York businesses to sign up for Digital Enterprise 2.0 so they can benefit from free web seminars, digital audits and its networking opportunities.”

Digital Enterprise 2.0 starts in September 2019 and registration is open at: https://www.digitalenterprise.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Download a 4MB image of Helen Reynolds and Jackie Black looking at the Digital Enterprise Top 100 report.