Stallholders at Huddersfield markets have been learning the basics of social media to help drum up business.

Ten traders from Queensgate Market and the open market attended a one-day training session to help them get to grips with Facebook and Twitter.

The event was organised by Kirklees Council and delivered by Janet Bebb, of Holmfirth-based Social Progress, a social media training and coaching business, with part-funding from the Skills Enhancement Fund.

Janet has already delivered short training sessions for stallholders in North Kirklees and ran Facebook and Twitter sessions at Dewsbury Market.

Clr Peter McBride, Kirklees Cabinet Member for Place, said: “Providing these training sessions is another of the ways we offer business support to our stallholders.

“Providing them with the skills to promote their businesses brings new customers to the markets and benefits all the stallholders in the market.

“We organised two social media courses in 2012 and stallholders from Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Heckmondwike and Dewsbury attended.

“I am pleased to see that we are now rolling out sessions at Dewsbury and the funding secured by Social Progress has been invaluable in delivering a more in-depth session.”

Nigel Beecroft, of Quality Butchers and Fishmongers, based at Queensgate Market, said the session had provided him with some excellent ideas, adding: “I now hope to reach out to more customers through these new channels.”

Nigel Turner, of Oliver’s Greengrocers, based at Huddersfield and Dewsbury markets, said: “Within days we had set up our Facebook page and Twitter accounts and now we are letting our customers know they can find us online.

“We will be making sure that we include our Facebook and Twitter addresses on all our publicity and stall signage. I see this as another way to promote the great value of markets to a new group of customers.”

Janet said support from the Skills Enhancement Fund meant small businesses could learn about social media marketing for £15 for the full day.

She said: “We’re running 11 Facebook and Twitter full-day workshops and six will be on blogging and LinkedIn.

“Take-up of the workshops has been very popular indeed with four workshops already fully booked”.