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.
"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.
No comments:
Post a Comment