Sheffield Businesses enter the Digital World

20th August 2014

Targeted specifically at the Retail, Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism sectors, the Digital High Street Skills programme will enable Sheffield businesses to push forward in the digital world.

The course is split into three modules which look at different aspects of digital communications; from websites to Social Media and from e-commerce to eBay, these modules will help businesses strategise their way to new customers. The programme comes after the national Future High Streets Forum, which advises the government on the challenges facing high streets, looked at how digital technology can help create the sustainable and thriving high streets of the future. Co-chair of the Future High Streets Forum and High Streets Minister Brandon Lewis said -The rise of online retail means Britain's shoppers are changing their habits and high streets need to adapt to continue to prosper. Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail stated 'This educational programme will help small businesses to establish or enhance their online retail offer, while also enabling those taking part to learn digital skills and business techniques that will improve their existing physical business. The programme will show how multi-channel retailing is relevant to every size of business, and why small businesses need to offer it if they want to be able to match the expectations of modern customers in today's mobile-digital age.' The Digital High Street Skills suite of programmes has been developed with the help of the Employer Ownership Fund. Through the Employer Ownership Fund, the National Skills Academy for Retail can offer training and mentoring for small retail businesses at substantially reduced rates. The fund is accessible to all businesses in the Retail, Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism sectors with fewer than 250 employees and in the Sheffield City Region. Training and Development Manager at The Source Skills Academy, Paul Alton, is excited to begin delivering the programme and said 'We are delighted to be able to offer the Digital High Street Skills programme to businesses in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. It will provide so many opportunities for those businesses that, for whatever reason, haven't yet engaged their customers through a digital platform. Digital High Street Skills is unique in that the content is easy to digest, whilst being a potential game changer for SMEs wanting to step into the mobile digital age.' For more information please contact Tom Lindop on 07711 595 339 or email tom.lindop@thesourceacademy.co.uk