As part of Getting Welsh Business Online Google are working with partners across Wales, here's a bit more about those partners:
Gareth Bray Chief Executive of Business in Focus said, "It's essential that the clients we support get to grips with how Google can help them to sell and communicate. This initiative is all about helping business people through providing practical tips and support, both online and face to face. As one of the largest providers of Welsh Government funded business support we were pleased to be approached by Google to partner them. We recognise the substantial value of this to our new and existing clients and we will do everything we can to help ensure its success."
Adrian Clark, chairman of Cardiff & Co “Getting online is one of the most important marketing tools for businesses. You don’t need a huge investment to win a share of the online market but you do need the skills. Cardiff & Co will do all it can to spread the word that Google is making it easy for businesses in the Cardiff city region to sharpen up their new media skills. This campaign will help firms throughout the city region to become more competitive.“
Robert Lloyd Griffiths, Executive Director, IoD Wales “We in
the Institute of Directors in Wales recognise the crucial need to enhance the requisite skills to create a business environment fit for the 21st century. Smart, efficient and intelligent use of the opportunities on-line can be a vital component of commercial success which will be a key driver of economic prosperity. We are delighted to be partnering with the team at Google to inform, educate and inspire business to be the best that they can be.”
Dai Davies, of The Federation of Small Businesses “We all live in such a fast changing business communication environment and the FSB is at the forefront in encouraging members to invest in capital equipment to enable them to compete with their “competitors”. Alongside this investment, it is absolutely vital that company owners and their employees are fully conversant with programmes, training and other facilities available to them. The provision of these services is also a complex and competitive world, it is very important therefore that every opportunity is taken to form alliances with such companies and to this end, the FSB is delighted to be a partner in this exciting project with the leading company in this field – Google.”
David Russ, Managing Director of the South WalesChamber of Commerce said “The future for all businesses in the 21st century is to develop an understanding from the most basic exploitation of web & email, through to expansive use of smart technology. By forging this unique partnership with Google, this enables companies in Wales to improve their knowledge & understanding with a world leader through these exciting & informative events.”
Getting Welsh Business Online will provide over 1000 free consultations and e-skills workshops using online education modules to help businesses in Wales set up a website or improve their online presence. Business owners in Wales can sign up for the free events at www.gbbo.co.uk/wales
Google experts will tour the country in the Google Juice Bar offering free one-to-one lessons on how to boost traffic to websites and increase business online.
As many as 40% of Welsh SMEs don’t have a website and only 33% - well below the UK average - are e-commerce enabled. Business owners who aren't online perceive websites as too costly, too complicated or not necessary.
Edwina Hart, Welsh Government Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, has welcomed the opportunity to work alongside Google to support businesses in Wales.
"We want Wales to be a truly digital nation and our Next Generation Broadband project is geared to ensure that all residential premises and businesses in Wales have access to high speed broadband by 2015.
We welcome this initiative to help companies gain maximum benefits from using and exploiting digital technologies to innovate, grow and access new markets, driving business growth. Digital technologies and online services have the potential to revolutionise the competitiveness of business and I hope as many as possible take advantage of the expertise on offer from Google."
Dan Cobley, Managing Director, Google UK, said:
"The Internet provides a barrierless platform for businesses to grow, so we are excited about coming to Wales for a year-long series of events to show business owners how easily this can be done.
We will be working alongside the Welsh government and local partners to ensure our time spent with local entrepreneurs will make a real difference to their businesses, and in turn, the Welsh economy in creating jobs through digital means.
We will run thousands of free consultations to boost local business across four regions of Wales. Starting in Cardiff in March, we aim to arm local enterprises with e-skills and tools so that they can really thrive."
A report by the Boston Consulting Group found that small businesses actively using the Internet had sales growth four to eight times greater than less active companies, demonstrating a huge opportunity for economic growth if more Welsh businesses can succeed online.
The Internet presents endless opportunities for starting and growing your own business. Google hopes its campaign will help to boost the Welsh economy which currently suffers unemployment rates that are four times above the UK average.
The events are designed to help local businesses regardless of technical expertise - from getting online and creating their first business website, through to improving their existing online presence.
Watch this space for locations and dates across the rest of Wales, and please visit www.gbbo.co.uk/Wales for updates.
Gareth Bray Chief Executive of Business in Focus said, "It's essential that the clients we support get to grips with how Google can help them to sell and communicate. This initiative is all about helping business people through providing practical tips and support, both online and face to face. As one of the largest providers of Welsh Government funded business support we were pleased to be approached by Google to partner them. We recognise the substantial value of this to our new and existing clients and we will do everything we can to help ensure its success." 
