Cardiff & Co teams up with Google

Cardiff & Co is working with Google to help business owners in Wales make the most of the Internet with a series of workshops and one-to-one sessions for businesses. Google’s Getting Welsh Business Online campaign starts with a launch on 6th March at the Coal Exchange, in Cardiff Bay.

Workshops Tailored to You:
A series of workshops will be happening across Wales so as many people as possible can find out more about how to grow their business online. Ensure you make the most of what the web has to offer and book your place. Starting in South Wales, with more to be announced, workshops will cover a variety of topics. Places are limited so book your place now here.

One-to-one advice at the Google Juice Bar:
The Juice Bar is your opportunity to have a 40 minute, one-to-one help session about your business with a Google expert. Whether you want to know how to set up a website for free, how market your business online or how to advertise online, Google is looking forward to helping your businesses make the most of the Internet. Click here to register for your Google Juice Bar appointment now.

The campaign is the first time Google has committed to an on-the-ground programme of this length anywhere in the UK - and is the company’s first major visit to Wales.

In a bid to boost the country’s online economy Getting Welsh Business Online will provide over 1000 free consultations and e-skills workshops - using online education modules - to help businesses in Wales set up a website or improve their online presence.

Google experts will tour the country in the Google ‘Juice Bar’ offering free one-to-one lessons on how to boost traffic to websites and increase business online.

Starting in Cardiff on 6 March the Juice Bar will travel to various locations across Wales throughout the year offering businesses around the country free advice from Google experts.

As many as 40% of Welsh SMEs don’t have a website and only 33% - well below the UK average - are e-commerce enabled. Business owners who aren’t online perceive websites as too costly, too complicated or not necessary.

Adrian Clark, chairman of Cardiff & Co, the company set up to promote the city region to the world: “Getting online is one of the most important marketing tools for businesses. You don’t need a huge investment to win a share of the online market but you do need the skills. Cardiff & Co will do all it can to spread the word that Google is making it easy for businesses in the Cardiff city region to sharpen up their new media skills. This campaign will help firms throughout the city region to become more competitive.“

Google is partnering with a series of organisations dedicated to supporting small business across the nation, including:

• Cardiff & Co
• Institute of Directors
• South Wales Chamber of Commerce
• Business in Focus
• Federation of Small Businesses
• Welsh Government Business Team

A report by the Boston Consulting Group found that small businesses actively using the Internet had sales growth four to eight times greater than less active companies, demonstrating a huge opportunity for economic growth if more Welsh businesses can succeed online.

The Internet presents endless opportunities for starting and growing your own business. Google hopes its campaign will help to boost the Welsh economy which currently suffers unemployment rates that are four times above the UK average.

The events are designed to help local businesses regardless of technical expertise - from getting online and creating their first business website, through to improving their existing online presence.

Business owners are encouraged to sign up and register their interest as soon as possible, as spaces are limited. To sign up for the free events, click here.

Here's an example how Google is getting Welsh Businesses online.

Keep up-to-date with Cardiff news by following @CardiffandCo on Twitter.