Support Offered to Boost Online Presence for Greater Manchester Businesses

Businesses in Greater Manchester impacted by Covid to receive free support in reaching wider market online.

14:05 21 October 2020

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched a scheme designed to provide support to businesses that are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal is to help businesses widen their reach by building their online presence. 

 

The Greater Manchester Digital Drive was launched in partnership with THG Ingenuity, a global technology platform specialising in taking brands direct-to-consumer, to help businesses get online or improve their existing digital offer. Businesses that sign up for the scheme will be able to create a website using the THG Ingenuity Dotable platform without any financial investment or risk. 

 

Cllr Sean Fielding, GMCA Lead for Employment, Skills and Digital, said:

 

“The Greater Manchester Digital Drive supports the regions ambitions, outlined in our Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint, to digitally enable all businesses and empower and enable people and businesses through innovation, integration, infrastructure, industry and inclusion – to ensure that no-one is left behind. It’s great to see this offer added to existing support, to ensure our businesses feel supported”

 

Matthew Moulding, Founder, Chairman and CEO of THG, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has left many businesses unable to trade normally. For some businesses, an online presence has meant the difference between survival and collapse.

 

“This initiative will remove the financial and skills barriers that have, until now, prevented businesses from going digital. It means that entrepreneurs who are currently relying on word-of-mouth or social media can now create a professional, scalable website and diversify the way that they do business.

 

“It could be a game changer for so many people across the region and, as a Manchester-born business we are incredibly proud that THG can play a big part in this.”