Google Garage helps to drive digital skills

GC Business Growth Hub and Google have come together to get behind the Mayor’s Homelessness Fund while encouraging local businesses to boost their digital skills.

Over the course of last year, staff at GC Business Growth Hub completed a digital skills course run remotely on Google Digital Garage, with a donation made for each member of staff who completed the course going to the Homelessness Fund. In total, this raised £1,400.

Following the success of the programme, the Hub are now encouraging the county’s SMEs to make 2019 the year they take advantage of the excellent opportunity for Greater Manchester businesses to boost their digital skills through Google’s Digital Garage.

Richard Jeffery, Director of Business Growth at GC Business Growth Hub explained: “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are looking to set up their own business, those who are seeking work, and those who want to simply improve their digital skills.

“Digital capability remains a big issue for small businesses in the UK and it’s been shown time and time again that better digital skills can save time and increase turnover. Taking part in this challenge for us has been a great way to learn more about digital skills in the workplace whilst supporting a great cause.”

Google’s Digital Garage store also offers IT-related courses, and free support and advice from specialist coaches.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Ending rough sleeping and improving the skills and prospects of people across our city-region are incredibly important to me.

“It is humbling how many people have come together for such a worthwhile cause and it is brilliant to see GC Business Growth Hub and a tech giant like Google putting their weight behind it. Thank you so much to everyone who has got involved and given their time and money to help others across Greater Manchester.

“More than 130 people have already found secure accommodation and even more have been helped in other ways thanks to your generosity. Together we are leading the way and are making progress towards ending the need for rough sleeping in Greater Manchester.”