Risking Your Business with Social Media? Brachers Leads Local Workshop

MAIDSTONE, U.K. - April 5, 2013 - PRLog -- The Rochester Cathedral Business Guild in conjunction with Brachers Law, Kent’s leading regional law firm, will be running an event aimed at local businesses in Kent and Medway.

‘Behind the scenes of social media – do you know the legal risks?’ will  be held at Commissioner’s House at Chatham Dockyard on Thursday 9th May 2013. The event is being staged as part of The Business Guild’s 2013 calendar of events.  The Business Guild’s regular networking breakfast will start at 8am with workshops following straight after.

Louise Brenlund, Associate at Brachers, is part of the 13-strong Employment Team at the Maidstone-based firm.  Louise has organised the event. She commented,

“Social media brings significant benefits to businesses in terms of marketing, networking and keeping in touch but it is often forgotten that social media activities may present significant legal risks that can be costly to your business.  This event will raise awareness of those risks and look at practical ways of addressing them”.

Keynote speaker, Sean Clark of Westgate Comms will open the event. Sean has spent more than 12 years helping companies promote themselves online including building Bennetts Retail Ltd's e-commerce channel from a £100,000-a-year business to £12 million in just six years. With a background in e-commerce and now a specialist in Search and Social Media he adds a practical, business focused approach to online marketing.

The event will welcome speakers from different fields who will host interactive workshops covering four subjects and issues surrounding social media:

·        Policies and procedures

·        Protecting confidential information

·        Employment relationships

·        How employers should approach privacy in the workplace

Annabel Beach, HR Consultant from Kent HR, will discuss the importance of setting boundaries for employees who use social media.  She will also advise delegates on how to shape social media policy.

Jeffery Jupp and Alex Young, barristers from 7 Bedford Row, will discuss how employers can protect confidential information when employees leave and the ownership of data collated from social media sites. Their second workshop will take into consideration the use of work and personal social media accounts when accessed in work hours and free time as well as the access that employers may gain to that information.

Louise will lead a workshop which will look at how tribunals deal with social media issues in the workplace. By taking delegates through real case examples, she will discuss the impact that these cases may have on businesses.  Louise will then open a discussion that will consider contractual issues around social media.

The event will close with a light lunch and the opportunity for networking.

This valuable event responds to the new generation of employees and businesses who are embracing social media. Delegates will consider the risk associated with social media. The workshops will outline the legal issues associated with social media platforms and advise businesses how to avoid potential pitfalls connected with growth of Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

The event is £25 to attend – this includes breakfast, a light lunch and refreshments throughout the morning.

The event is open to the public as well as Rochester Cathedral Business Guild members.

To find out more about the event head to http://www.brachers.co.uk/events

Tickets can be purchased by emailing development@rochestercathedral.org or calling 01634 810074.