Manchester’s libraries are taking part in a new initiative to help local small businesses to get online.
The project – run by the Tinder Foundation as part of Google’s Digital Garage programme – will provide digital skills support to small businesses, sole traders and people setting up new businesses, helping them to make the most of Google’s Digital Garage resources.
Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Luthfur Rahman, said: “This project will deliver more than 30 free workshops across the city’s network of libraries between August this year and next March. It will help people who want to find a new job, set up a new business, or make their existing business more efficient and profitable.”
Modules include advice on how to:
Expand internationally
Build your web presence
Get noticed with social media
A study released in 2015 revealed that more than one million businesses in the UK were still lacking basic digital skills, with a quarter believing digital is ‘irrelevant’ to them.
Helen Milner, Chief Executive of Tinder Foundation, said: “Digital skills are vital in today’s world, but there are still a number of people who don’t have the skills they need to benefit from everything digital technology can offer. For many, they simply don’t have the time to get to grips with the tools that exist, and don’t know where to start. The targeted, personalised support provided through this programme will address these issues, ensuring people can find the tools that are relevant for them.”
Itay Haber, Head of Marketing at Google UK said: “In the digital age, a basic understanding of how the online world works is useful; and when it comes to business, it’s essential. At Google, we’re fully committed to helping people become more digitally savvy, and through this partnership we hope to extend our support to communities where in-depth support and training is most needed.”
This project is part of the wider Google Digital Garage programme, which aims to support 250,000 people up and down the country to improve their digital skills. To find out more, email businessinfo@manchester.gov.uk, or for the latest business events in the city’s libraries, go to manchesterbipc.eventbrite.com.