Small business broadband training
A government training programme to prepare small business for faster broadband networks will start soon, but it’ll cost
$800 to take part.
Would you pay $800 to learn how to use the fast broadband networks currently being rolled out on behalf of the New
Zealand government?
That’s the price of taking part in a day-long session run by the Digital Office. However, there may be subsidies for
some participants.
The training programme was launched last week by Communications Minister Amy Adams who says it will help small
businesses take advantage of the new networks.
She says it will include workshops to examine how UFB, RBI and other new technologies will impact on companies and
identifies the opportunities it presents.
While tech-savvy readers may scoff, there’s a need for New Zealand’s small business to move beyond simple online
applications like email, banking and gathering information.
As Adams points out relatively few small businesses have websites. And when they do, in most cases the sites are little
more than brochures advertising services. Few offer much in the way of interaction. Tellingly only 11 percent of NZ
business sites offer customers a way to pay online.
The programme is supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and will be available through the New
Zealand Trade and Enterprise Regional Business Partner Network around New Zealand.
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