A social media giant has announced a new digital skills training programme that aims to help businesses across the UK’s high streets to grow online.

Google, which made the announcement in Rochester as part of its existing Google Garage tour, aims to provide the skills needed to operate and grow in the digital economy.

The initiative will offer businesses and locals from high street locations across the country the opportunity to access free face-to-face training, which has been tailored to the specific challenges local small medium businesses are facing on the high street.

The Google Digital Garage High Street Tour will start in May 2019 and will visit at least 15 high street destinations across the country.

The programme forms part of Google’s commitment to providing free digital skills training to everyone in the UK.

To help inform the curriculum, Google has partnered with the Federation of Small Businesses and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Ronan Harris, managing director, Google UK and Ireland said: “Having the right digital skills can have a transformative impact on business growth and job creation. Our hope is that by providing dedicated, tailored training through the Digital Garage we can help bring new growth to high streets.

"Despite the ongoing uncertainty posed by Brexit, we want to show businesses on high streets how digital skills can help them to thrive, not just as a place for commerce , but also as a cultural centerpiece of the communities that they serve.”

Chair of FSB’s retail policy unit, Michael Weedon, said: “At a time when high streets are under intense pressure from rising business rates, higher employment costs and digital competition, it is more important than ever to innovate for the future.

"Many small businesses are in need of support to improve their digital skills, including high street firms. Through expanded digital skills, and adopting digital technologies, small businesses can find new ways of growing and adapting for the future.”

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