Hand on mouse on Facebook mouse matFacebook has announced plans to help thousands of small firms by offering free advertising to boost their chances of growing their business.

The firm will give away £4.2 million-worth of adverts to tens of thousands of small businesses across Europe following the launch of a series of roadshows being run in conjunction with the British Chambers of Commerce on building Facebook business pages.

A new report by Deloitte showed that Facebook has supported 35,200 jobs across Europe and contributed £2.2 billion to the UK economy.

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said: "The report shows that Facebook is about a lot more than sharing pictures or keeping up with friends. Increasingly, social media means growth and jobs.

"As the Deloitte study highlights, social media is proving particularly valuable for small and medium-sized businesses, which form the backbone of the European economy.

"The impact of social media is a bright spot in challenging times, but growth won't happen on its own. We need to make sure that we invest in the right education, training, technology and networks so that social media can continue to drive innovation and economic growth."

© 2012 Press Association