Great Yarmouth Jobs Fair 2014 has been officially launched.

The event will provide an opportunity for residents to meet local businesses and take part in workshops on topics from CV writing to setting up a company.

It will take place at Great Yarmouth Racecourse on Friday, March 7, and is supported by the Mercury, Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis, 3Sun Group and CH2M Hill.

One of the speakers at the event will be Vick Smith, of GY Social Media.

Mrs Smith runs her own social media consultancy, Vick Smith Communications trading as GY Social Media based at Monument Road, Great Yarmouth.

She found a passion for the social media side of business after an IT software career which included working for large financial services companies.

After being made redundant, Mrs Smith was inspired to start her own business when passing by the Novus Centre, the enterpriseGY Enterprise Hub.

She said: 'enterpriseGY were one door down from the Job Centre and I walked past them every time I went to sign on.

'I walked in and the receptionist recommended an appointment which was booked for within a week or so.

'I met with Stephen and explained that I was uncertain if I would be able to start a business. He was very reassuring and explained the steps about registering for tax/contributions, setting up a bank account and insurance.

'Stephen was also a great sounding board for my marketing ideas and product development.'

She said she got positive advice and launched her own business, and still attends the monthly enterpriseGY Enterprise club.

'The early days were quite tough but very rewarding – balancing all the business start-up paperwork with the marketing and taking on our first customers,' she revealed. 'It's important not to face it alone.

'Finding so many helpful fellow entrepreneurs on Twitter in the first few weeks was fantastic.

'We've gone through the ups and downs together!'

Vick added: 'We learned a lot about what local business people needed from social media during those first few months.

'Many of our products really hit the spot.'

For details about the jobs fair, see www.greatyarmouthjobsfair.com