Southampton City Council launches digital skills pilot

Southampton City Council launches digital skills pilot

March 30, 2021

Up to 40 local businesses will benefit from being included in an innovative digital skills pilot to help them adapt to today’s fast-changing business environment following the announcement of a new scheme by Southampton City Council. The pilot will launch on 30 March and will be delivered over the next three months.

The council has teamed up with DNAsix, a successful digital skills e-learning programme already in use across Dorset, West Sussex and London. They will also be working with key local partners to ensure participating businesses have access to a comprehensive suite of support to help them on their digital journey.

Partners include:

Solent Growth Hub
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Federation of Small Businesses
Solent University
Barclays Eagle Labs
Business South

The digital skills pilot is designed to help businesses in Southampton to become more agile, digital-savvy and competitive.

Each business will receive a digital ‘health-check’, dedicated 1-2-1 support from a trained advisor plus access to a suite of learning modules.

They will also learn a wide range of digital subjects, including creating a ‘digital-focused’ business plan, understanding how to use digital channels and social media, making the most of data and maximising their online visibility to customers.

Southampton City Council's Executive Director - Place, Kate Martin, said: “We want participating businesses to be pioneers for the digital transformation journey that partners across Southampton are championing. Such businesses can be from a range of sectors and any size, from micro small and medium sized enterprises to mid-sized companies. As we emerge from the pandemic, this pilot project is another key intervention towards economic recovery, and a theme that we will pursue through our Future of Work programme.”

David Taylor, Director of DNAsix, said: “Study after study shows that businesses here in the UK lack many of the digital skills they need to survive, thrive and compete in today’s post-Covid, post-Brexit and increasingly uncertain business landscape.

“I am delighted that Southampton City Council is backing this exciting project which will see local business owners supported through their digital ‘pain points’ to secure their growth ambitions."

Eligible businesses need to be:

Based in the Southampton City Council catchment area
Solvent
Keen to change/grow

If you would like to be part of this pilot, please contact David Taylor on david@dnasix.com