Modern day revolves around being digitally active, which can simplify and enhance many aspects of our lives.
The benefits of being digitally active and capable can be unique to each resident and business.
Whether you want to connect online with friends or new business leads, drive business productivity or progress your career, order or promote goods and services online and much more, being online can help you do it all!
But how can you maximise the digital opportunities and what support is available to residents and businesses?
Residents
iDEA is a free online learning platform which can help you to develop your digital and enterprise skills, offering something for everyone (including those with no, limited or advanced digital skills). Learn more about iDEA.
Learn My Way also offers free online courses, for beginners, helping you to develop the basic skills to make the most of online. Find out more at the Learn My Way website.
Digital Buddy volunteers: Do you want to inspire others to get online? Can you support others to develop their digital skills? If so, why not become a digital buddy volunteer?
The Adult Education Budget offers fully funded training to Greater Manchester residents who are unemployed or earning less than £17,004.
The regional training offer, which includes certified and non-certified learning, includes various digital skills opportunities. Local providers include:
Have you found what you need? If not...
The Bury Directory hosts thousands of activities, services and events across our borough (which includes digital support). Visit the Bury Directory website to find out more.
Broadband grants and funded support
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme: Do you want grant support to access the fastest and most reliable broadband speeds in Britain?
Rural properties, with broadband speeds of less than 100Mbps, can use vouchers worth £1,500 per home and up to £3,500 for SME businesses, to support the cost of installation.
For further information and to confirm your eligibility, visit the Gigabit Voucher webpage.
Home phone and broadband providers are offering discounted packages for Universal Credit claimants.
- BT Basic
- Virgin Media is launching their Essential Broadband offer in the autumn 2020. It will initially only be available to existing Virgin Media customers.
Business
Greater Manchester's Digital Drive, which is a fully funded initiative, helps businesses to get online (including the creation of a website), improve their existing digital presence and business support.
For more information, visit the GC Business Growth Hub website.
Skills Support for the Workforce provides fully funded bespoke training to SMEs that want to upskill, reskill or address skill gaps within their organisation.
You can find more information or register your interest via the Growth Company website.
Inspiring the future workforce: Do you want to inspire future talent into your sector/organisation?
There are opportunities to engage local high school students, to raise the profile of growth and underrepresented sectors that are struggling to recruit and retain talent. Find out how you can get involved at the Bury Means Business website.
Have you found what you want? If not...
The Bury Means Business website hosts useful business updates and information linked to growth, grants, COVID, premise, skills and much more. Visit the Bury Means Business website to find out more.