Southampton Business Improvement District offers free online training

Published by

Sam Pither

Girl in headscarf having online lesson on laptop at cafe, wearing headset, taking notes, online education concept, copy space

GO! Southampton, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), has launched an online training hub offering free and flexible training to its members.

The hub, which has been set up in partnership with Hampshire-founded learning provider SeedL, will provide unlimited access to up to 200 courses which can be accessed on demand.

These include mental health first aid, leadership and management skills development, time management advice, Microsoft Office, customer service, and retail management.

Stephen Manion, Executive Director for GO! Southampton, said: “We are excited to offer this new service to our members. It gives all the staff members of our businesses the chance to develop at a time which suits them.

“We have been asked for training on mental health, retail management, customer service and leadership by our members, so this platform gives them the skills they are requesting, to continue to provide fantastic service in our city.

“With so many types of businesses in our city centre, this is a great way for us to support different sectors.”

The interactive courses will be delivered in the form of live webinars by trainers and on completion participants will receive a certificate.

The learning hub will allow employees of the BID’s members to access training materials from their home, office, or anywhere they have an internet connection, using partner SeedL’s virtual learning service.

Jo Shepherd, SeedL’s Chief Learning Officer and a Southampton resident, said: “SeedL has grown rapidly since its launch and we’re really excited to do more to support town and city centre economies. Our partnership with GO! Southampton will bring significant benefits to employers and employees in the city.

“By investing in their people through learning, GO! Southampton members are more likely to retain the talent they have and give individuals the opportunity to grow.

“With learning being such a key part of candidate attraction and retention, we’re delighted to help these local businesses have a competitive edge. Businesses are able to highlight this benefit during their recruitment process.”

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.