Of all the companies I have worked with, Sage is right at the top for recognising the value of social engagement, not only with employees, but with its staff, suppliers and community supporters too. The perfect example of this is the Sage Summit, which makes its mark on London this week, on 5 & 6 April 2017.

I have been one of Sage’s ‘Business Experts’ for many years now. In that time, I have seen its global reach expand and engagement with the business community grow. Unlike many organisations, Sage’s social strategy isn’t just an add-on or afterthought, pushed by the PR or marketing bods. It is integral to its strategy, its message and its mission. Well, that’s my perception, so it must be doing something right.

Over the past few years, through Sage I have been fortunate to meet a broad variety of business experts, each specialists in their fields and each one committed to supporting the business community. As well as attending key events, such as the important and influential Brexit debate focusing on SMEs and the upcoming Summit, Sage involves its community in online events, Q&As, Facebook Live presentations and countless blogs, webinars and podcasts. I even ended up joining the Great North Run alongside Sage employees, suppliers, clients and the CEO!

Which brings me on to Stephen Kelly, Sage’s CEO, who embodies the spirit of social Sage and isn’t afraid to share it on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and just about any other social network where the business community might be – and more! It doesn’t stop there. The Sage Executive Team are all active social media users, accessible, accommodating and engaged in the business community.

For the Sage Summit, social media promotion, celebration and engagement will dominate. For those unable to attend, there will be live-streams, commentary, interactive presentations and probably a few trending hashtags over the course of two days.

I’m conscious that I’m starting to sound like a cheap advertisement and just stringing together a list of clichéd quotes and testimonials, but Sage has embraced what it means to do business in the digital age. Yes, it has been an investment, but as with all investments you get out of it what you put in and sometimes just that little bit more.

If you can’t make Sage Summit with Dragons Deborah Meaden and Kelly Hoppen, Baroness Martha Lane Fox and millennial music guru Jamal Edwards (tickets are available free of charge), follow my experience via Twitter (and others at #sagesummit) and check in online from time to time.