Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett has spoken about the importance of support for small businesses, saying he would not be where he is today without having had guidance at the start. The Diary Of A CEO Podcast host was speaking as a support service which started in lockdown marks its third anniversary.
The programme has helped over a million small and medium-sized enterprises to improve their digital skills for free over the last three years.
Through the scheme, run by Vodafone, SMEs are given access to free one-to-one guidance from a business expert either online or over the phone, alongside a range of courses designed to help them grow their businesses.
Steven Bartlett said: “Without guidance and support I would not be where I am today. The V-Hub service gives you access to resources, workshops and webinars and you can speak to a team for 1:1 guidance – it’s pretty incredible. Not to mention it’s totally free. A huge congratulations to the Vodafone V-Hub team on hitting the 1 million milestone and happy third birthday – keep doing what you’re doing!”
The V-hub platform covers everything from setting up a business, finding new customers online and protecting yourself from cyber-threats. It forms part of Vodafone’s everyone.connected initiative which aims to help four million people cross the digital divide by 2025.
Nick Gliddon, UK Business Director, Vodafone said: “Vodafone has a central belief that UK businesses should be supported to ensure they have the right technology and the right skills to fully enjoy the benefits of a digital economy.
That over a million SMEs across the UK have used V-Hub to upskill their digital capabilities, take personal 121 advice or just use the knowledge centre for advice on security and cost of living shows how valuable and needed this service is. I would also like to thank our partner Enterprise Nation for all their commitment, passion and advice in making this happen.”