Google has announced that it has decided to double the number of people it plans to train in digital skills in Europe in 2016 from 1m to 2m people.
The news was announced at the EMEA HQ of Google, located in Dublin’s Silicon Docks, as part of the company’s efforts to get more people and businesses, particularly, online.
In Ireland, at least, Google has so far teamed up with content creators, start-ups, SMEs, trade organisations, NGOs, teachers and young people to get them online.
With the first digital skills programme held back in 2011, Google said that, for its programme last year, about 14,000 people participated in programmes led by the company in Ireland alone.
Digital skills for all
The company went on to further say that Ireland should benefit particularly from the doubling of its skills training positions across Europe as a whole.
Speaking of the doubling of available places, the head of Google Ireland, Ronan Harris, said: “We want all Europeans, regardless of age, background or location, to be able to start a new business, grow their existing one, or share their passion online.
“In Ireland, there is a great thirst for knowledge and people at all levels of society are enthusiastic to learn and improve their digital skills. We’re seeing the enormous opportunities for economic development and social inclusion the internet is providing, and we want the citizens of Europe and Ireland to have the skills to be able to benefit from those opportunities”.
