UP to 700 delegates are expected at Bournemouth’s first Digital Innovation Show.

The free event is aimed at all ambitious businesses who want advice about the digital world.

It will include eight key speakers in the digital and creative industries, as well as advice on everything from branding to generating leads online.

The show takes place on Tuesday, September 12, 9am-5pm, at the O2 Academy in Boscombe, and more than 500 have already signed up.

Gemma Dare, founder of the Digital Innovation Show and Mintsource events, said: “The Digital Innovation Show is there to fuel business growth in a digital world.

“It’s for anyone that’s in business that wants to learn more about how to generate more business online.”

Dorset Growth Hub and Flavourfy Digital will be running free business growth workshops, focusing on data protection, digital and social media marketing, the psychology of search engines, and accessing money for business in the digital world.

“They’ve got a whole series of workshops throughout the day plus one-to-one help on local business growth,” said Gemma.

There will be a host of guest speakers from 9.30am.

Matt Desmier, of Silicon Beach and Wise Old Uncle, will speak on on branding; Mark Masters of the ID Group on building an audience; Annie Talbot of Greenwood Campbell, on ‘the rise of the bots’; and Rachael Taplin of Blueboo on digital PR.

Darren Gooding of Akero will speak on nurturing leads to drive return on investment; digital transformation coach Danny Matthews on the ‘art of self-disruption’; Dan Willis of Why? on how technology can empower your state of mind; and Jake Moore of Dorset Police’s cyber-crime unit on protecting your company from cyber-attack.

The event will also feature a host of exhibitors. Food will be on sale from local business Lunchd, and there will be networking over drinks from 4pm in the upstairs bar area of the O2 Academy.

It follows a successful Digital Innovation Show in Southampton earlier this year and details are at digitalinnovationshow.com