Go back not too long ago and the term ‘digital literacy’ would have received a blank look. The rapid pace of technological change can be dizzying for even the more astute business owners, but help is at hand.
ICT Woman of the Year Yvette Adams is on the look out for deserving people to sponsor into her hugely successful Get Up To Speed program, aimed at equipping people with digital skills.
Already over 650 people from around Australia and NZ have completed the 12 week online program, with many success stories achieved, but this is the first time scholarships into the program have been offered.
“The message we’re trying to give here is that no matter who you are, and where you live, life is different in the digital age, and if you don’t have digital skills you are at a serious disadvantage. We hope people will take this opportunity to improve the position they are in,” Ms Adams says.
“Whether you are a parent wanting to keep up with your children and their use of technology, a professional wanting to ensure your skills stay current and you are therefore employable, you want to start an online business or are already running your own business, it is essential today to have these skills, which is why we’re going to help out 5 lucky people who have a good story, with a scholarship into the 12 week program valued at $595 a piece.”
The scholarships are being allocated to one person per category as follows:
Student – Must be currently studying at a tertiary institution and have a valid student ID.
Baby Boomer – Must be aged 50 years or over and be able to provide verification of their age through the provision of a suitable ID.
PR/Marketing Professional – Must work in the field of PR/Marketing/Comms and be able to prove it, and keen to up-skill in the area of digital marketing to improve their employability / career prospects.
Career Changers – Can be a parent looking to return to the workforce or someone in a career who is keen to change careers and looking for new skills to do so.
Business owner – Must own over 50% of their business and be looking to obtain new skills which will help them run their business more efficiently or profitably.
Applicants should go to http://thetrainingcollective.com.au/scholarship-2014 to enter. The deadline for entry is Friday 25 July, 5pm. More information about the program can be found at www.thetrainingcollective.com.au/guts.
Free workshops for prospective small business owners
The City of Sydney regularly conducts Business 101 seminar series designed specifically for both existing and budding small business owners who aren’t sure where to start, are daunted by the process or are seeking to grow their business.
The free seminars provide an overview of the common issues involved in setting up a small business and offer practical advice on how to tackle these issues as well as providing networking opportunities.
While the Business 101 series covers general issues – such as online marketing – they also cover industry-specific topics including food trucks, small bars and outdoor dining.
Some of the seminars, such as Tech Start-ups can also help entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their technology business get connected to the Sydney ecosystem, as well as help those working in a creative field turn their project into a functional business.
Each event features presentations and the opportunity to ask questions of industry experts and City staff who look after applications, as well as to hear stories from people who have successfully been through the process.
Upcoming events include:
| Date | Business 101 seminar |
| Wednesday 23 July | Marketing Your Business in an Online World |
| Wednesday 20 August | Food Businesses and Outdoor Dining |
| Monday 22 September | Tech Start-ups |
| Wednesday 8 October | So You Want to Start a Small Business |
| Wednesday 15 October | Grow Your Business – How could your business be better? |
| Wednesday 29 October | Start and Grow – Creative industry from art to business |
Check out the Business 101 Seminar page for further listings.
