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Funding available to libraries to support businesses with digital skills Applications are now open for funding to support 10,000 businesses with their digital skills - thanks to a new partnership between Tinder Foundation and Google. Libraries which are members of UK online centres network, can apply for up to £3,500 to help businesses (primarily sole traders and owners/employees of ‘microbusinesses’ with 0-9 employees) develop their digital skills in order to save time and increase turnover, using the Google Digital Garage<https://digitalgarage.withgoogle.com/>. Developed by Google to help individuals, businesses, and whole economies grow, the Digital Garage has helped thousands of businesses to do more with digital. This partnership with Tinder Foundation will ensure that Google Digital Garage resources can reach more deeply into the population of businesses with the lowest digital skills. Successful organisations will help improve the digital capability of those they work with, using Google Digital Garage resources as part of a package of support delivered to meet their needs. People setting up in business can be helped too, as can businesses with up to 50 employees. Recently libraries have been at the forefront of innovative approaches to delivering business support at the local level and contributing to local economic growth<http://www.bl.uk/britishlibrary/~/media/bl/global/business%20and%20ip%20centre/documents/270-001%20british%20library%20enterprising%20libraries%20infographic-with%20trims.pdf> such as through the Enterprising Libraries<https://www.gov.uk/government/news/enterprising-libraries-receive-450k-to-support-local-businesses-of-the-future> programme. As the hub of the community, libraries can play an essential role in providing support to businesses to help develop their digital skills. The funding is open to all UK online centres, and the Tinder Foundation are keen to encourage applications from the library members of the network. The deadline for applications is Friday 15 April at 5pm. Please read the grant description and guidelines for more information, and access the application form here<https://www.ukonlinecentres.com/funding/current-funding/google-digital-garage-2016>. Darren Smart Secondee, Digital Agenda - Leadership for Libraries Taskforce Based in Department of Culture, Media and Sport, 4th Floor, 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ Email: [log in to unmask] Twitter: https://twitter.com/LibTaskforce This email and any attachments are confidential and intended solely for the persons addressed. If it has come to you in error please reply to advise us but you should not read it, copy it, show it to anyone else nor make any other use of its content. West Sussex County Council takes steps to ensure emails and attachments are virus-free but you should carry out your own checks before opening any attachment.