Free digital training helps Plymouth organisations get online

Small businesses and charities in Plymouth have been given a digital-skills boost through a free Digital Know-How training event hosted by Lloyds Banking Group in collaboration with Google. The event took place at Plymouth University with more than 90 organisations signed up to attend.

The half-day workshop was opened by Gary Streeter, local MP for South West Devon. The session featured talks from digital experts at Lloyds Banking Group and Google, who offered practical tips on how organisations can get online, manage cyber security and use social media platforms to reach new audiences.

In addition, the speakers also provided insight into how businesses can use tools like Google Analytics to improve their websites and measure the impact of their online strategy.

Gary Streeter MP said: “This kind of online advice and support is hugely helpful to our local small businesses and charities. Better digital skills can have a really positive impact on productivity and open up new ways for businesses to trade and grow. It’s fantastic to see Lloyds Banking Group and Google offering this kind of free training.”

Commenting on the training, attendee Rebecca Rose from Plymouth Garden Centre said: “We found the event insightful and productive. The initial online fraud session was very useful, it was quite thought-provoking to see how much work, intellect and business-savviness goes into online fraud, and how easy it could be to become a victim. As careful as we are, it was a good way to remind us to be clued-up on the new technology we have at our disposal to counteract it.

“As for the Google session, the speaker was engaging and knowledgeable. Despite being technologically-minded myself, when trying to target an age group below my own, it was exceptionally useful to learn what new social media platforms there are, how they’re being used, and how we can make that work for our business. I particularly enjoyed the interaction he had with us, it made it very easy to apply what we learnt to our own online marketing avenues. I took away new knowledge and confidence to use social media marketing accurately.”

The event was hosted by Lloyds Banking Group as part of its Helping Britain Prosper plan, which has seen the group train one in every four of its colleagues to help people and organisations use the internet to improve their digital skills and financial capability. The Group has committed to providing digital skills training, including training on internet banking, for 2.5 million individuals, SMEs and charities by 2020.

Stephen Noakes, Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for the South West, said: “Our latest Business Digital Index report showed that 43% of businesses in the South West do not have their own website and 45% do not use social media. This free Digital Know How event responded directly to these findings and helped small business and charities to create better websites and develop an engaging social strategy to unlock potential benefits.

“For charities, that can include increasing the number of supporters or donors, while businesses can grow their sales and target new markets. That’s why events that develop vital digital skills are so important. We have more than 1,600 Digital Champions in the South West helping individuals and organisations improve their online skills, as part of our plan to help Britain prosper.”