EAST Lancashire businesses are being urged to get up to speed on the internet or risk being left behind by their rivals.

James Rigg, sales director at Burnley-based IT suppliers Lanway, warned: "The region is lagging behind other parts of the country in its take-up of high-speed internet links.

"It seems the business community in general still needs convincing about the benefits of broadband, but while that battle is being fought others are getting on with it.

"There is a real danger that companies could lose competitiveness if they fail to take advantage of high-speed connections."

Lanway demonstrated the plus points of ADSL during a seminar on behalf of the East Lancashire e-Business Club entitled 'Understanding Technology and What it can do for you!'

James said: "Broadband offers very real benefits for businesses in the region and it is up to them to make the most of it. There is plenty of help and advice available to small businesses who need to know more about broadband and how they can take advantage of it."

"Broadband is just one example of how technology can help small companies," he said. "What makes the e-Business Club special is the fact people come together to share the pool of knowledge and experience with firms who aren't necessarily technology-savvy.

"It's not a club exclusively for tech businesses, rather a place where decision-makers from all different sectors can come to learn more about what is available and how they may be able to use it to make their companies grow.

"I firmly believe it is fundamentally important to the future prosperity of East Lancashire that everyone embraces the likes of broadband."

Membership of the East Lancashire e-Business Club is free. For more details on the event and how to join the club contact 01254 356400 or e-mail: info@elancs-ebusinessclub.co.uk