Background
The GROW digital initiative was established to empower Kiwi businesses owned by people with disabilities to thrive in the digital landscape. Funded by the Department of Internal Affairs (D.I.A.), this initiative offered free digital support to disabled small business owners. The program aims to equip these businesses with the tools and training necessary to enhance their digital capabilities.
Objectives
The primary objective of the GROW digital initiative is to close digital inclusion gaps, such as digital skills, and to ensure that small businesses owned and operated by disabled people are not left behind in the digital age. The initiative focuses on providing tailored advice through a disability lens to facilitate the success of disability-driven small businesses.
Implementation
The program involves several key steps:
- Identifying Business Goals: Understanding the business goals for the year and discussing the challenges faced by the business.
- Digital Boost Packages: Recommending digital equipment, training, and advice needs. Each digital boost package consists of identifying customer business goals, discussing challenges, and recommending digital solutions.
- Community Engagement: Reaching out to organisations, digital marketing, and discussing their needs and challenges with businesses.
- Training and Support: Providing training through a dedicated portal, sourcing equipment, and connecting with contractors and suppliers
The initiative included a comprehensive process involving recruitment/enrolment, assessment, roadmap creation, training, review, and feedback collection.
Key Achievements
- Successful Launch: The initiative was well-received, and the feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive
- Support for Disabled Business Owners: The program specifically targets small business owners who are disabled or who have a majority of disabled staff, providing them with opportunities to enhance their digital capabilities
- Extensive Training: The GROW Digital Training portal was heavily utilised, with numerous group and private sessions conducted to address the lack of default disability accommodations with other generic training providers
Challenges
- Digital Inclusion Gaps: Addressing the digital inclusion gaps, such as digital skills, was a significant challenge. However, the program’s tailored approach helped mitigate this issue.
- Resource Allocation: Ensuring that the right resources are allocated to the businesses in need requires careful planning and coordination