GOOGLE’S MARKET TOWNS TOUR VISITING BRIGG OFFERING FREE DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING TO GROW LOCAL BUSINESSES

As part of its Digital Garage tour, Google will visit market towns across the UK, including Brigg, to provide digital skills training to local people and business owners.
Google will be bringing its Google Digital Garage to Brigg  on Friday, 12th October, offering local people free advice and coaching on digital skills to help grow their business, career and confidence.
The bespoke training courses offered in Brigg will include: building a digital marketing plan, social media strategy, how to make your business more visible online, and an introduction to digital advertising. Free face-to-face coaching on a 1:1 basis will be offered for people with any level of experience; from advice on taking the first steps online, to building a digital CV and your personal brand online.
Research from Innovate UK found that the top priority for towns in the UK in order of importance to their High Street, town or city centre, was digital skills (42%) and improved digital marketing (36%). In its Digital High Street 2020 report, the Future High Streets Forum identified eliminating the digital skills gap as one of the four key achievements required to revitalise high streets.
Meanwhile, research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals that over a quarter (26%) of business owners in England lack confidence in their own basic digital skills. Additionally more than a fifth (22%) believe a lack of basic digital skills amongst their staff delays a business in progressing digitally.  Google launched the Google Digital Garage in the UK three years ago to help address this gap in opportunity and give people in the UK the skills they need to achieve the goals they haven’t reached - yet.
Ronan Harris, Managing Director Google UK, commented: "In the digital age, a basic understanding of how the online world works is useful and when it comes to business, it’s essential. We are delighted to bring the Google Digital Garage to Brigg in Lincolnshire to ensure everyone has access to free digital skills workshops and one-to-one coaching.
“We want to give businesses in Brigg the digital skills they need to make the most of new technologies to level the playing field against their competition, reach new customers beyond their local area and grow, whilst ensuring they remain at the heart of the local community.”
Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, said: “I am incredibly grateful to Google for bringing their Digital Garage to my constituency. This is a fantastic project which will provide valuable advice and skills to businesses and start-ups in the local area. Moreover, this initiative is particularly welcome in more rural market towns like Brigg, where opportunities such as these are not often available.
“Once again, I am delighted that the Google Digital Garage is coming to my constituency to help local businesses take advantage of the new and exciting opportunities that digital technology brings.”
The Google Digital Garage will be at the The Angel Suite, Market Place, Brigg, DN20 8LD, on Friday October 12th, from 10am-4pm. Visitors can either book in advance or simply drop by for on-the-spot help. For more information, or to sign up to a session, visit: http://g.co/MarketsTourUK
The Google Digital Garage project is part of Google’s commitment to provide free digital skills training to businesses, entrepreneurs, students and individuals across the UK, and help 100,000 people in the UK find a job or grow in their career through digital skills training over the next three years. Courses are open to all and range from intermediate to beginner level so anyone can take part.
Google will take its Market Towns Tour to towns across the UK.