New Digital Transformation Programme to support over 1000 businesses across NI

The Digital Transformation Programme is designed to support over 1000 businesses across Northern Ireland to improve their productivity by incorporating digital technologies into their businesses and will be delivered through a range of workshops and one to one mentoring. Invest Northern Ireland has allocated over £860,000 of funds, with councils contributing £216,000, to support the Programme which will be delivered by all 11 councils.

Kevin Holland, Invest NI’s CEO said: “Covid-19 has strongly reinforced the importance of digital technologies and has significantly accelerated the shift to digital for businesses across Northern Ireland. The new Digital Transformation Programme will provide a platform for businesses to understand the digital options, which are available to them, plan the next steps in their digital journey and create value for their customers in an increasingly competitive economy.

“The collaborative nature of this Programme is exceptional and is a Northern Ireland wide effort across all 11 councils to support NI businesses to drive an increase in productivity through digital transformation. The workshops will show NI businesses how they can adopt existing and proven technologies to help them transform their business models, improve productivity and create value for customers and will appeal to businesses in all sectors including manufacturing, retail, tourism, hospitality and construction.”

The Programme, which will be rolled out in summer 2021, will also offer almost 200 businesses with the highest potential for digital transformation an opportunity to be selected for one to one digital innovation mentoring. The mentoring will explore how their business can adopt digital technologies to deliver transformational change with the completion of a Digital Acceleration Plan.

Jacqui Dixon, of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, which is the Council administering the Programme added: “The Councils are delighted to have secured this funding from Invest NI. Delivery of the Digital Transformation Programme is strategically significant for the region.

“It will accelerate the adaptation of technology by SME’s to improve productivity and shows the determination of Northern Ireland’s eleven councils and Invest NI to re-build the economy through partnership. The Programme will equip and guide businesses to develop Digital Acceleration Plans with the support of public sector.”

The Digital Transformation Programme is part funded by Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you