Upcoming events

Top 5 Digital & AI Tools Every SME Should Be Using

Save time, stay organised, and make your business easier to run. Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats and often spending far too much time on things that technology could make quicker, simpler, or even do for you. In this practical session, we'll cut through the endless choice of apps and software and focus on five types of digital and AI tools that can make a real difference to the way you work.

We'll explore practical tools for:

• Task Management – capturing what needs doing, prioritising it, and getting it out of your head.
• Scheduling & Meetings – making bookings easier, reducing diary ping-pong, and simplifying online meetings.
• Project Management – keeping enquiries, prospects, clients, and follow-ups organised in one place.
• Inbox Management – using the ZenForInbox method to reduce email and message overwhelm and ensure important messages don't become forgotten tasks.
• Workflow & Automation – connecting systems and getting technology to handle repetitive jobs for you.

For each area, we'll look at what the tools can do, where they can save you time, and how you can use them to increase efficiency in the day-to-day running of your business.

We'll also leave time for a Q&A session, so you can ask questions about the tools and how they might work for your business.

The aim is simple: less admin, better organisation, and more time to focus on actually running your business.

About the speaker

Liz Hardwick CSP is an award-winning professional speaker and tech entrepreneur, known for delivering practical, high-impact strategies in AI, digital productivity, and time management. With more than 25 years' experience turning 'digital' into real human and business benefit, Liz helps individuals and teams work smarter, focus deeper, and achieve more without burnout.

Her sessions combine proven frameworks (including her own), modern technology tools, and actionable tactics, trusted by global organisations including the BBC, NHS, GSK, Rolls-Royce, and General Assembly. Whether on stage or delivering a masterclass, Liz inspires lasting change that elevates performance, clarity, and momentum in today's fast-paced digital world.

This workshop is fully funded by the Cumbria Accelerator: Business Support Programme, with places limited to one person per business.

Rethinking social media for 2026: What’s changed, what matters, and how AI can help

Social media has changed a lot this year.

Aside from your feed looking different, the way people use social media to find and research businesses is changing, social content is becoming increasingly visible in search, and platforms have started demoting ‘AI slop’, content that looks mass produced.

This two-hour workshop covers the most important updates for social media in 2026, what that means for the way you post, and how you can practically use AI as part of your social media workflow.

We’ll share a behind the scenes look at how marketing experts are using AI to plan, create and improve social content day-to-day, effective prompts that lead to better results, and workflows that can save you time. We’ll also look at where AI works well, where it doesn’t, and how to make sure the content you create still sounds and feels like your business.

Join Dan McAulay from Carlisle marketing agency Twenty Twenty Studio, and leave knowing exactly what to focus on next for your socials and how to use AI to help you do it.

What you’ll learn:

• What’s changed in social media, and what it means for your business in Cumbria.
• The most important areas to focus your time on when it comes to socials in 2026.
• How to use AI as part of your social media workflow, from planning and ideas through to creating content.
• Effective prompts and practical tips to help you create content that is consistently on brand.
• Where AI works well, where it doesn’t, and how poor AI-generated content can cost you customers.
• The check to run before anything goes live.

Join us

Join us for this free online webinar, fully funded by Cumbria Accelerator Business Support Programme and delivered by Twenty Twenty Studio.