Greater Manchester companies affected through COVID will receive loose support for their online presence and succeed in a wider market under a new programme.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Business Growth Hub have partnered with THG Ingenuity, THG’s Manchester-based generation facility division, a global generation platform specializing in direct branding with consumers, to launch Greater Manchester Digital Drive, an initiative that supplies businesses. with free access to “ready-to-use” equipment to help them attach their existing virtual offerings.
Through this initiative, companies will be able to access THG Ingenuity’s Dot platform to create and host a loose online page for up to 12 months, creating an online presence without any monetary investment or risk.
The service gives them the opportunity to diversify into the existing climate and verify whether an online presence will generate more business and awareness.
Those who are already online but require a more complicated supply can use THG Ingenuity’s Imagination platform for six months, providing more e-commerce features that they can customize to meet their needs.
After the loose period, corporations can continue with a paid subscription or leave the contract without having to remain in service.
Cllr Sean Fielding, HEAD of Employment and Digital at GMCA, said:
“Greater Manchester Digital Drive supports the region’s ambitions, defined in our Greater Manchester Digital Master Plan, to enable all companies to digitally and empower and enable others and businesses through innovation, integration, infrastructure, industry and inclusion, so that no one stays It is wonderful to see this offer added to existing support , so that our companies feel backed up. “
Matthew Moulding, founder, president and CEO of THG, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has prevented many corporations from normally negotiating. For some corporations, a presence has made the difference between survival and collapse.
“This initiative will remove the monetary and skills barriers that have so far prevented companies from become digital. This means that marketing specialists who lately rely on word of mouth or social media can now create a professional, scalable and diversify the way they do business.
“This can be a game changer for many other people in the region and, as a Manchester-born company, we are incredibly proud that THG can play a role in this area. “
The new program, once announced through GMCA as a component of Digital Leaders’ Week, builds on existing efforts to combat virtual exclusion in the city-region. On the occasion of yesterday’s Digital Leaders, GMCA Digital CEO Sara Todd also presented the creation of a program to replace in Greater Manchester. The timeline aims to correct the virtual divide, with a transparent ambition for unintentional virtual exclusion in Greater Manchester. It will be supported through a sustainable and scalable action plan aimed at cross-sectoral collaborations and capacity building. organizations on the network.
In addition, GMCA has already made significant investment in local government paintings in its communities for virtual inclusion activities and more investments for other young people in generation and virtual careers, adding the Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund moment circular to address locally known gaps in virtual skills.
Digital inclusion and empowerment are key goals in the Living with Covid Resilience Plan and the Greater Manchester Digital Plan.
Lou Cordwell, co-chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“More than ever, small independent businesses in Greater Manchester want a strong online presence to succeed in their markets.
“Restrictions had to curb the pandemic, but the resulting drop in attendance caused many corporations with places for physical visitors to lose out. Many don’t have the capacity or budget to adapt quickly.
“Digital activation is a key pillar of our local business strategy and our crusade to better rebuild. This new initiative is welcome and is another perfect example of public-private collaboration in Greater Manchester.
Sarah Novotny, Director of Commercial Support for Digital, Creative and Technology, GC Business Growth Hub
“In recent months, we have noticed a sharp increase in the number of companies in Greater Manchester looking for virtual innovation as they see a growing desire to be online to thrive in this ever-changing environment. “GM Digital Drive ” is a wonderful opportunity for our local business network to create, verify, and expand a new or existing virtual presence, while employing the skills and expertise of GC Business Growth Hub and THG. adding freelancers, freelancers and micro-enterprises.
We are very pleased to be the spouse of GMCA and THG for implementing this exciting new initiative, which adds to the wide range of fully funded support, resources and recommendations that have recently been obtained through the Hub in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Companies can access the GC Business Growth Hub online page https://www. businessgrowthhub. com/gmdigitaldrive
More information on the Greater Manchester Digital Inclusion for Change program can be found https://www. greatermanchester-ca. gov. uk/what-we-do/digital/