2 March 2000

DIY E-COMMERCE TRAINING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

A practical do-it-yourself training programme, designed to teach small companies everything they need to know about e-commerce, is being launched today in Lisburn by Victor Jordan, Director of the Company Development Programme at the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment.

Announcing details of the new pilot scheme Mr Jordan said: "The internet is radically changing the way business is being conducted and the rate of change is quite phenomenal. We need to act quickly to ensure that Northern Ireland is not left behind by increasing awareness of the advantages of e-commerce. Indeed, this is one of the key tasks currently being undertaken by the Information Age Initiative. We also need to offer companies advice and training that is appropriate, accessible and affordable.

"This new initiative has two key benefits enabling training to be delivered at a suitable time in-house and at a pace to suit individual employees.

"The training will take the form of a simple, step by step, multi-media software package which will help companies to not only get started with the internet but also to launch and conduct their businesses on the net as well as learning how to design their own web pages."

He added: "It is vital that businesses, particularly small firms, are given the opportunity to experience the benefits of the world wide web and e-commerce to increase their competitiveness and to ensure their future survival."

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Twenty companies, from a broad range of industries including manufacturing, IT, food and hotels participated in today's pilot programme.

Participants will receive, on loan, a multi-media package to train a number of employees within a given timescale. They will be asked to provide feedback on the effectiveness of the package and the method of delivery for evaluation purposes.

The programme follows on from the recent Training and Employment Agency initiative 'Buttons - E-Commerce Made Easy,' which offered small and medium sized business the chance to attend a one day workshop with a mere cost of £25.

It is one of a number of awareness schemes being promoted by the Information Age Initiative.

For further information please contact Cecil Baxter on (028) 9025 7620 or Mary Cunningham on (028) 9025 7617.