Greater Manchester Combined Authority has announced it has partnered with The Hut Group鈥檚 鈥業ngenuity鈥 business to help businesses 鈥榙iversify鈥 into e-commerce.
The Manchester-headquartered e-commerce giant launched THG Ingenuity to take brands direct to consumers and it recently announced a partnership with high street chain Hotel Chocolat.
The partnership between GMCA, Business Growth Hub and THG Ingenuity, launches the GM Digital Drive, which provides businesses with free access to 鈥渙ff the shelf鈥 tools to help it get online or improve its digital offer.
The initiative will give businesses access to THG Ingenuity鈥檚 Dotable platform which will enable them to create and host a website for free for up to 12 months.
Meanwhile, businesses that require a more 鈥榮ophisticated鈥 offering can gain free access to THG Ingenuity鈥檚 Imagination platform for six months, which offers additional e-commerce features, GMCA said.
After the free period, businesses have the option to continue with a paid subscription, or leave the contract.
Matthew Moulding, founder, chairman and chief executive of THG, said the initiative could be a 鈥済ame changer鈥 for people across the city region.
He said: 鈥淭he Covid-19 pandemic has left many businesses unable to trade normally.
鈥淔or some businesses, an online presence has meant the difference between survival and collapse.
鈥淭his initiative will remove the financial and skills barriers that have, until now, prevented businesses from going digital.
鈥淚t 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.鈥
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GM Digital Drive was announced by the combined authority at its Digital Leaders Week, an event held to combat digital exclusion.
Digital inclusion and enablement are key objectives in Greater Manchester鈥檚 Living with Covid Resilience Plan and Digital Blueprint.
Councillor Sean Fielding, GMCA lead for employment, skills and digital, said: 鈥淭he 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 鈥 to ensure that no-one is left behind.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see this offer added to existing support, to ensure our businesses feel supported.鈥
