To establish trading in the Digital Economy all Irish SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises), from sole-trader to micro to medium sized, need to have an online digital presence. This means using at least the minimum digital channel of a ‘Google friendly’ website to reach and drive customers to your business.
A report on Information Society and Telecommunications (ICT) released by the CSO in December 2009 shows that while 95% of enterprises had a computer connected to the internet only 66% had a website or homepage.
A recent UK report, Skills for Jobs: Today and Tomorrow produced as part of the UK National Strategic Skills Audit for England, 2010, finds that the digital sector makes a significant contribution to the economy, and that businesses will need increasingly high levels of skills and greater technical capability to respond effectively to the opportunities and threats posed by globalisation and advances in digital technology.
WebActivate is an innovative programme designed by Digital Skills Academy and delivered in partnership with the Digital Hub, the Chambers of Commerce and leading Further Education Colleges in the participating cities. The programme is funded by the government Labour Market Activation Fund and the courses are FREE OF CHARGE to participants. There are no fees or charges for the SMEs providing work placements in the programme.
Digital Skills Academy: is based in the Digital Hub in the heart of Dublin. Building on many decades of accumulated experience in Internet & Digital Media, the Academy offers the highest standard of multidisciplinary training in digital skills.
Digital Hub: The Digital Hub is an Irish Government initiative to create an international centre of excellence for knowledge, innovation and creativity focused on digital content and technology enterprises
The programme will be delivered in partnership with four Colleges of Further Education including:
Delivered in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Dublin. The programme serves businesses in these cities who are small to medium sized and currently have no web presence.
The SME application deadline has now passed and we are no longer accepting applications.
