THE Essex eBusiness Club has led by example and launched an all new website. The new essexbusinessclub.co.uk provides a hugely expanded facility and a more sophisticated look.

Catherine Turner, the club's coordinator, said: "We are always stressing the need to keep websites fresh and updated, so we thought that we should have a revamp ourselves. As an organisation that promotes e-commerce throughout Essex it was essential that we took a lead."

Three other members collaborated with Catherine, a professional IT trainer, in the process of designing and activating the new site.

The site was designed by Momo of Southend, while Datapartners of West Mersea acted as site engineers, setting up the database and site traffic systems. Datapartners also maintain the site.

An introductory cartoon background, by Steve Hearn of the Langdon Hills studio Design4u, helped to lighten the content. The contents were written by WordsWorth PR of Benfleet, and Stephen Avila of the solicitors Birkett Long checked the terms and conditions.

Catherine said: "The revamped site gives a clear example of the sort of web resources that are now available to SMEs. The old site was somewhat static, but we now have a site with substantial back-end data.

"Reservations for events can now be done immediately on site, whereas previously they were only achieved via an email connection to me."

The new ebusiness site also offers an example of a website that can be built up gradually by a business.

Catherine said: "We are grateful to everybody who participated."

Membership of the eBusiness Club, and attendance at the events it organises, are completely free. Catherine said: "We absolutely welcome new members, and there are hundreds of companies out there that could benefit. The Essex eBusiness Club is managed by Essex Chambers in partnership with Business Link for Essex, EEDA, and local partners including Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council."

Taken from Business Essex, September 2005.