Google Digital Garage comes to York

A series of free digital skills training events is being offered to businesses in York throughout Spring 2023.

In partnership with the Google Digital Garage, City of York council has launched an upcoming programme of four digital skills training sessions, taking place between February and May 2023. These hour-long sessions are open to anyone in business in York, or who wants to get started in business. The sessions will help businesses to hone their digital marketing skills, learn how to build social media strategies and discover how to utilise Google Maps to market their business online, reach local customers and drive footfall.  

In addition to the training, each business that attends the workshops will be able to sign up to free 1-to-1 online mentoring with Google Digital Experts to access guidance tailored to their specific digital needs - from building your brand on YouTube, Google Search and Maps to creating more ways to bring customers to your business.

The sessions will take place as follows:

• Tuesday 28 February, 9:30-10:30 am: Digital Marketing Strategy (webinar)

 Learn how to build a digital marketing strategy for your business by learning about the digital marketing channels available and how they can be applied to your business objectives.

• Wednesday 22 March, 9:30-10:30 am: Find Customers with Google Maps (webinar)

Join this session to discover how you can utilise Google Maps to market your business online, reach customers from a local market and drive footfall to your business.

• Thursday 20 April, 9:30-10:30 am: Social Media Strategy (webinar)

Learn more about search strategies, how to create an online listing for your business and the benefits of setting up a business profile on Google.

• Thursday 18 May,10 am-3 pm: Digital Skills Training (in-person event)

This event will see Google Digital Garage trainers deliver three 45-minute sessions and three 15-minute sessions. More details about this event will be confirmed shortly.

The first three sessions will be virtual, with the final event taking place in-person. This event will be held at a central York venue, with final details shortly to be confirmed.

Free to attend and open to everyone, the sessions will be delivered by expert Google Digital Garage trainers, and there will be the opportunity to ask questions during the sessions. The Google Digital Garage is one of Google's flagship investment programmes in the UK, helping businesses and individuals learn free digital skills through a range of courses or one-to-one sessions.

 Councillor Ashley Mason, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning said:

“As the UK’s first Gigabit City, York has a strong track-record of being at the forefront of the digital economy, creating a wealth of opportunities for local businesses. We’re delighted to be working with Google Digital Garage and hope to establish long-term links that will deliver further support to York’s businesses and entrepreneurs.

“These sessions offer a great opportunity for local people to develop valuable skills, which will help to grow their businesses, in turn supporting York’s economy to thrive. I’d encourage all those interested to sign up and take advantage of this exciting programme.”

Alice Mansergh, Managing Director of Google Customer Solutions, UK & Ireland, said:

“Digital skills can have a transformative impact on small businesses, that's why we're delighted to be partnering with the City of York Council to offer local entrepreneurs a series of digital skills training sessions, to help them take their ventures to the next level. 

"People in every corner of the UK should have access to the skills needed to reach new customers and tap into new markets, and we're excited to be working with individuals and business owners in York to help them unlock the opportunities created by the country's digital economy."

To take advantage of this free training, book your places at the links below:

• Digital Marketing Strategy Webinar 
• Find Customers with Google Maps Webinar
• Social Media Strategy Webinar 
• Digital Skills Training (Live Event) 

Businesses are welcome to sign up to as many of the sessions as they want, from one event to the full series.

Read more about Google Digital Garage here.

For more information, email economicgrowth@york.gov.uk