Businesses throughout Ireland are losing customers every day because they have not embraced digital technologies. The WebActivate Project commenced in August and is aimed at getting Irish businesses online. The project – an initiative of the Digital Skills Academy – is supported by The Digital Hub, as well as Chambers of Commerce and Further Education institutions throughout Ireland. The project is being run as part of the Labour Market Activation Fund 2010, funded by the Department of Education and Skills and the European Social Fund.

200 people who are currently unemployed will be given training and work placements in the initial phase of the project – an 18-week training programme in digital skills, which commenced in August. They will spend six weeks receiving 'in-centre' training and the remaining 12 weeks on structured work placements, building websites for small businesses involved in the project and helping them to establish an online presence.

Paul Dunne, Director of Digital Skills Academy, explains the WebActivate Project, in the first of a series of Digital Hub TV videos about the project. Videos to follow will include interviews with the participants in the programme, the businesses involved, tutors and supporters of the programmes.

To participate or become involved in the WebActivate Programme visit www.webactivate.ie