Digital Technology Support Service Gets Off To A Flying Start

A digital support service set up to help businesses in Wales benefit from superfast broadband and the latest digital technologies has received over 1600 enquiries from business owners since its launch in March 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The five year Superfast Business Wales service, backed by the Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provides free, independent advice and guidance to help micro, small, and medium sized businesses utilise digital technologies to develop and grow. These exciting new technologies can help businesses to reduce costs, increase sales to existing customers, find new customers, and increase profits. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A part of the Welsh Government Business Wales service, the support includes Inspiring Action workshops, an online needs diagnostic, 1:1 support, a web review, all supported by online tools, guides and case studies available on the website business.wales.gov.uk/superfastbusinesswales ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To date 562 businesses have attended workshops and masterclasses, 360 of which have booked 1:1 appointments with an expert digital adviser. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Red Ribbon Communications, is just one of the many businesses which has benefitted from the new service. Rachel Fairbank, owner of Red Ribbon attended an ‘Inspiring Action’ workshop and said “the workshop provided information about digital technologies in a friendly, accessible and jargon-free manner. I came away with lots of insights, resources and several clear action points to implement within my business.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would definitely recommend the Superfast Business Wales service to all Welsh SMEs, it puts a wealth of knowledge and expertise at your fingertips for free.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Skills and Science Julie James said: “Since launching the Superfast Business Wales service earlier this year it is really encouraging to see such a high level of interest considering this is a completely new aspect to the Business Wales service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The service gives free impartial advice to help businesses keep up with the latest trends in the digital market so that they understand, adopt and exploit the opportunities associated to newer technologies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Superfast broadband can make a real difference to a small business and our economy. That is why investing in the superfast broadband infrastructure and ensuring businesses know how to access faster broadband are a priority for the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​