SMALL businesses in Wokingham will be helped to do more business online thanks to a new national initiative.

The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce will run one of 16 ‘ebusiness' clubs being established across the UK, giving small and medium-sized

companies information and guidance on online trading.

Launching the network, e-commerce minister Douglas Alexander said: "Many small firms have real challenges fully exploiting the opportunities that e-commerce can offer.

"These clubs will help small firms tap into a market worth billions of pounds in the UK alone."

The Department of Trade and Industry, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and a number of leading technology companies are sponsoring the scheme.

The club will hold a launch meeting at the BCC's training company headquarters in Slough on Friday, April 12. Firms can join by registering at www.ebusinessclubs.co.uk/register, by contacting project manager Stuart Kirk at

stuartkirk@kirk24.fsnet.co.uk or by calling 0780 135 6004.

Booking details for the launch can be found on the Thames Valley Chamber's website at www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk/events.