Vodafone launches trial of digital skills workshop

Mobile giant launches trial workshops in Leeds and London to help equip SMEs with the digital skills they need to get ahead

Vodafone launches trial of digital skills workshop

For any small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) looking to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world, it’s hard to underestimate the value of digital skills. At a time when industries seem to be getting disrupted at breakneck speed, few small businesses can afford to have significant gaps in their technological expertise. Luckily, for those that don’t feel at home up to their elbows in reams of code, Vodafone has launched a trial series of digital skills workshops to help SMEs brush up on their tech.

Conducted in partnership with Freeformers, the digital transformation company, the series will kick off today with the first of two one-day workshops in Leeds, followed by sessions in London in the coming weeks. The session will help small businesses from a range of industries learn how to code a website, optimise it for mobile devices, utilise social media channels and targeted advertising and employ effective cyber security to protect their business and customers.

And its not just SMEs that stand to benefit. Under Freeformers’ one_for1 model, for every small business that comes through the programme, a 16- to 25-year-old will be trained for free and get to take part in the digital workshop. Not only will this help young people gain skills they need for the modern workplace but it will also help enrich other small businesses and ensure they have the talent they need to thrive in the modern digital landscape.

“It is no surprise that the way we do business is changing,” said Jonathan Kini, head of small & SME business at Vodafone UK. “Customers want to be able to engage with businesses through multiple channels and to receive fast, responsive and quality customer service 24/7. Therefore SMEs need to adapt and be ready to take advantage of the online opportunities and benefits of being a digital business and not risk losing out by falling behind the digital curve.”

Dan Drori, commercial director of Freeformers, added: “Recent research on the digital maturity of SMEs and charities in the UK highlights the need for greater digital skills among Britain’s SMEs and indeed the workforce generally. It is naïve to think companies can prosper without robust digital strategies at their core, especially within mobile and digital technology. These one-day programmes will demystify digital and provide SMEs with the practical skills they need to be more confident and competitive.”

All in all, it sounds like the programme is worth checking out for any start-up that wants to become a mobile maestro or the digital doyen. 

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Josh Russell
Josh Russell
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