- Google UK External Affairs Manager Michaela Neild initially announced the workshops at the South East LEP Digital Skills Partnership launch event earlier this year
- Google’s Digital Garage events offer local people and businesses free advice and coaching on their digital skills to help them find a job, or grow in their business, career or confidence
- Topics covered will include building a CV, writing for social media, building a personal brand and Google’s own #IamRemarkable series
- The South East LEP’S Digital Skills Partnership will also be working with Huawei and Facebook to hold separate digital skills events across the South East LEP area (East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock) before the end of 2019
The Digital Skills Partnership for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) has partnered with Google to hold several Google Digital Garage events across the SELEP area, namely in Basildon, Braintree, Colchester, Ebbsfleet, Thurrock, Medway, the Isle of Sheppey and East Sussex College.
The Google Digital Garage is one of Google’s flagship investment programmes in the UK, where anyone can come and learn free digital skills through a range of courses or 1:1 sessions. Since launching the Google Digital Garage in 2015, over 400,000 people have benefitted from Google’s free face-to-face training on digital know-how across 500 locations in the UK.
Businesses and residents will have the opportunity to work with Google trainers to develop their digital skills. The events were initially announced by Michaela Neild, External Affairs Manager at Google UK, at the South East LEP’s Digital Skills Partnership launch event earlier this year as part of the internet giant’s support for the local partnership.
Topics covered during the workshops will include building a CV and cover letter; building a personal brand, exploring online branding and visibility; writing for social media, including dealing with customer comments and complaints; building presentations; and Google’s own #IamRemarkable series, which encourages attendees to realise their own achievements in their lives and careers.
As well as the Google Digital Garage events taking place across the SELEP area, the LEP’s Digital Skills Partnership has also arranged a Facebook Digital Skills Training session, delivered by the team at BuzzStart Academy, at Braintree Campus on the 19th November. Huawei will also be bringing its 5G Truck to university campuses in the South East in December to showcase 5G technologies to students and staff alike.
South East LEP DSP Coordinator James Wilkinson said:
“We’re delighted to be working with Google and local organisers to provide these fantastic opportunities for people across Essex, Kent and East Sussex to improve their digital skills.
“The local DSP Steering Group has identified five key priorities around digital skills, including support to those at risk of digital exclusion and to SMEs to ensure their staff are responsive to developing technologies and, as part of that focus, we’ll be working with the likes of Google, Facebook (through their local delivery partners, Buzzstart Academy), Huawei and others in 2020 to continue to boost local residents’ digital skills.”
