SMALLER businesses and start-ups across Worcestershire can be among the first in the UK to take full advantage of cutting edge services essential for customer engagement and future growth.

Worcester city centre based modus group has launched a brand new business to business offering bringing professionally designed and built mobile-friendly websites to SMEs and entrepreneurs across the county. Nettl is the new web studio brand hitting high streets across Britain, and Worcester has become one of the first cities to welcome the new concept after local MP Robin Walker opened the newly refurbished and rebranded modus print store in The Tything.

modus print has been a successful printing.com franchise since 2006, and has now added the new Nettl web studio to the existing print and design business. Nettl.com offers sophisticated services across the full spectrum of digital and print resources, to help SMEs throughout Worcester access competitively priced websites bridging the gap between bespoke design and self-build websites.

Mr Walker said: "I am delighted to see the continued growth and development of modus right here in the city. This is a powerful collaboration that unites 10 years of local knowledge and expertise with a major new national brand, offering sophisticated web shops and online apps, and the resources to help Worcester business compete in a busy marketplace.”

Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, added: "Every business no matter how big or small needs to have an online presence and this new Nettl web studio will allow businesses across the county to compete online with easily affordable professionally developed websites.”

Nettl of Worcester will offer its services to businesses in various industry sectors, from independent retail, hospitality, beauty, sport and leisure, through to construction, media, marketing and tech start-ups. SMEs are a key focus for the company.

Guy Marson, Nettl of Worcester and modus Founder, said: “The dramatic increase in smartphone usage has not only seen a rise in Worcester people browsing websites on a mobile device, but also buying products via their mobile. With a huge number of websites still not prepared for mobile, and with Google now penalising them for this in their rankings, there is an opportunity for Worcester businesses to capitalise by building mobile-ready e-commerce websites, and we are here to offer advice, support and guidance to businesses looking to optimise their websites for mobile or simply get their business online."