Bloomberg Media Studios has announced details of a new commercial partnership with Facebook, in support of the platform’s marketing services to small and medium sized businesses across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

The new partnership, Connect Today, created by Bloomberg’s in-house creative team, Bloomberg Media Studios, will run throughout September and October and highlight a number of business success stories across EMEA as told by the Facebook users turned entrepreneurs themselves.

The first series of stories focuses on the shift to mobile media consumption and the growth of video to propel SMEs around the world. The initiative is being led by Ciaran Quilty, Facebook VP for small business in EMEA.

“Everyday people watch more than 100 million hours of video on Facebook and its family of apps,” says Quilty. “Video presents a huge opportunity for businesses to grab people’s attention and engage people in your brand, your product, your service and ultimately to ring your cash register.”

Included in the first launch series of interviews is Hiut Denim, the clothes manufacturer based in the small Welsh town of Cardigan, which is using Facebook Business to export hand crafted denim jeans around the world.

There is also the story of Italian restaurant Pescaria that has built an innovative bread and fresh fish concept by leveraging the targeting capabilities on the social network. Another business expanding through Facebook is London-based florist Bloom & Wild, which offers an alternative way of sending flowers.

Arif Durrani, EMEA commercial editor at Bloomberg Media Studios, said: “Our content partnership with Facebook Business draws upon our storytelling skills and video expertise to provide inspiration to the many would-be entrepreneurs wanting to capture the opportunities presented by today’s technology.

“Facebook is clearly offering a new life line to many people with a great business idea and the passion to launch it. Technology has levelled the playing field for those looking to reach new customers and it’s sure to resonate with Bloomberg’s engaged business audience.”