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Google Digital Garage [Annual Review 2021]
Talent and Skills
Impact for scaleups
600,000+
Trained since 2015
20
Webinars provided each week
10,000
Hours of free 1:1 support or mentoring on offer
£25m
Worth of advertising credits
20,000
Trained virtually in 2020 and 2021
Key sectors
Set up in 2015, Google Digital Garage provides free training for individuals as well as small and scaling businesses to acquire up-to-date digital skills so they can embrace new opportunities. Participants are helped to use online tools and social media as well as maps and data analytics.
Since its launch the Digital Garage has trained more than 600,000 people. Through its partnership with Digital Boost it has been connecting small businesses and charities with Digital Garage coaches and Google employees who are offering 10,000 hours of free 1:1 support and mentoring.
During the coronavirus lockdown Google adapted the programme into a webinar format and expanded the series of courses available. It delivers around 20 webinars and trains more than 500 people each week. In total over 20,000 individuals have received training delivered virtually.
In July 2020, Google launched its latest Grow with Google campaign to help one million small businesses by the end of 2021. It was designed with a specific focus on helping businesses who rely on in-person interaction – such as those in leisure and entertainment, restaurants, retailers and hairdressers.
The initiative has continued this year, providing support through the partnership with Digital Boost, and enables small businesses to update their online presence to help them be found by customers, offer £25 million in advertising credits, and hold regular 60-minute webinars to help local businesses adapt to the ‘new normal’. The content of these webinars varies from ‘Get Started with Live streaming’ to ‘Understanding Analytics’.
Another initiative is linked to Google’s partnership with Visit Britain. Digital Garage hosted webinars with Visit Britain as part of a programme providing practical advice and tips to businesses towards a sustainable recovery. Digital Garage has trained over 800 UK Tourism SMEs on Get Visible on Google and Google Analytics.
