For many businesses who have the luxury, online trading has become a crucial element of keeping the lights on and businesses afloat. Google has today announced a suite of commitments they will provide to Irish SMEs (small and medium enterprises).
The Alphabet-owned company, which came under fire for an update which impacted Ireland’s COVID tracking app, announced a commitment to help 60,000 Irish SMEs recover by helping them grow online. The online search engine giant will provide free digital skills training to 40,000 people by the end of 2021. An additional €4 million worth of advertising credits and grants will be distributed to small businesses, government agencies and NGOs. These commitments come as businesses across Ireland have been rocked by barriers to trade as a result of sweeping restrictions attempting to tame the spread of COVID-19.
The virus has altered consumer behaviour and led to restrictions when it comes to face to face interactions, particularly those involving large groups. This has posed real challenges for the many businesses who previously relied on face to face interaction. Google is committed to supporting Irish SME’s succeed, and today announces ‘Grow with Google’ supports to enable businesses to adapt and thrive by learning how to operate online. This could mean reaching new customers online, selling online for the first time, expanding to international markets or learning how to run a team virtually.
Through the Grow with Google website, people can access hundreds of training courses for free, learning everything from how to get your business visible online, to how to scale your business internationally and how to collaborate with your team online. 8,000 people in Ireland have already enhanced their digital skills through the program, and Google commits to helping an additional 40,000 people by the end of 2021. Google will also partner with Irish organisations such as The Dublin Chamber of Commerce and The Gaelic Players Association to make additional digital skills training free and easy to access for Irish businesses.
Learn more about how Grow with Google can benefit your business.
