Technology can be brilliant when we know what we're doing. It can save us time, entertain us and generally make life easier. Can you imagine being without some of the gadgets that we use every day and almost take for granted?
But tech can also be scary and frustrating, especially when we're stuck and tools like Google and ChatGPT are just not helping.
Sometimes what we need is an expert, a real-life human being, who has been through the struggles, can listen to our problem and just MAKE IT EASY.
That's where Small Business Tech Clinic can help.
We've got a array of experts who are each obsessed with a particular tech topic. And we're gathering them all together in one place. What would you love to know but never knew who to ask? Come and test the brains or our experts!
Come along for the whole event or just drop in. Chat to the experts of your choice (there's no limit on how many you can speak to) and, if available, use our co-working area to go and implement what you've learned (while it's still fresh in your mind).
Need more info? We've got answers to your questions below.
In the meantime, here are a few things you might want to do
Sign up to our mailing list to find out about our next event
Take a look at who our Experts are and what they do
Let us know if you want to be an expert at a Small Business Tech Clinic
Contact us if you're a venue that would love to host a Small Business Tech Clinic
It's a drop-in session for small business owners who need help with a variety of software, tech and general computer-related "stuff" in their business.
On hand we have tech experts who each have their own area of expertise and are ready to help you with your particular problem.
A general admission ticket gives you, the buyer, access to all the experts. There's no limit on the number of people you can talk to.
The purpose of the Small Business Tech Clinic is to bring together people there who are experts in a variety of areas that involve technology and are important to small business owners, so that you can ask them for help.
Come for the full session or drop in for as much or as little time as you would like.
Ask an Expert
Book your ticket and come along and talk to as many of our experts as you like.
Each expert will have their own table where you can sit with them, explain your problem and, if you'd like, show them on your laptop, tablet or phone.
We've got experts who can
help you feel more confident with the tech you are already using
answer those annoying Excel or Google Sheet questions
have a look at your laptop (Windows or Apple)
There are no appointments, we work on a first-come-first-served basis.
The experts available vary depending by meeting. We'll let you know the experts that are confirmed at the time of booking and keep you updated as more as added.
Put it into practice
Once you've had a chat with the expert(s) you need we've got a co-working area where you can spend time working ON your business. Why not take the opportunity to implement what you've just learned, while it's still fresh in your mind.
Networking
Meet other local business owners attending the event, both in the room with our experts and in our co-working area.
We're currently recruiting experts and you can see their details here. We'll be adding experts right up to the event date.
It might be helpful for you to come armed with your laptop, tablet or phone, so you can show our expert(s) what you need help with.
Feel free to bring spreadsheets, documents or whatever information might be needed, so our expect can fully understand what you need their help with. But please hide or anonymise any sensitive information before you arrive.
On the day our experts will be able to help with questions that can be answered in around 10 minutes. Bear in mind, this is a clinic and not complex brain surgery!
Of course, we fully understand that you might not know if your question is a 10 minute answer or a 4 hour session and that's fine. Our experts will guide you and help as much as they can, within a reasonable time frame.
If our expect can't fully answer your question on the day they may be able to point you in the right direction with online resources or they may be happy to continue the conversation with you later, as part of their usual, paid services.
We operate drop-in session, we don't currently have appointments. If there's someone you really want to talk to, we'd recommend arriving as early as possible in the session. Experts will help people on a first-come-first-served basis.
This can depend on a number of factors - some questions can be answered quickly and some need considerably more time. Also, some experts may be in high demand with a long queue!
We work on the basis of a "fair use" policy, so as many people as possible can be helped by as many experts as possible.
Expect around 10-15 minutes with an expert but if your expert isn't busy they may be able to give you a lot more of their time.
It won't be possible for our experts to resolve every issue at the clinic. Some topics will just be too big, unfortunately. However, you will be given advice about what you can do yourself after the event.
In addition, our experts work with many business owners on all manner of problems and it may be possible to engage the expert on a paid basis, if you are both happy to do that. Just so you know, any additional work and the rates charged are entirely at the discretion of the expert and under the expert's contractual arrangements.
As long as you like!
You're welcome to be there from the time we open to the time we close and talk to as many experts as you can in that time, where they have availability.
Yes, absolutely.
If you have a question that's more of a project or needs a lot more time then, if you and the experts agree, you can engage them to help you separately, after the Small Business Tech Clinic is over.
This will depend on the venue but usually we'll have
free parking
free tea, coffee and pastries
free wifi
a co-working space, where you can meet other business owners and put into practice what you've learned from our experts
This depends on the venue. Generally there is no food available to buy at the venue but there are likely to be places nearby (most easily accessed by car) where you can buy food.
Alternatively bring lunch with you and enjoy it in our co-working space.
Tell us who you are looking to talk to. We'd love to know what kinds of experts small business owners need in their lives!
Give us an idea of your problem or area of frustration via the Contact Us page and we'll see if we can find someone who could help. No promises but we'll have a go!
Do you love tech as much as we do and want to help small business owners get the best out of it? Let us know all about who you are and what you do on our Become an Expert page
Maybe! We currently operate in the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire area but we'd be happy to hear about other areas and business communities that need some tech expertise.
Please drop us a message, all the ways to get in touch are on the Contact Us page
You'll need to buy a ticket via our booking page before you can attend the event. If you arrive without a ticket we'll ask you to book online and then we'll be delighted to welcome you.
Unfortunately we do not offer refunds but if you would like to transfer your ticket to someone else, please contact us and we'll be happy to help