BUSINESSES across Scotland are being given a unique opportunity to secure a free mobile app and training worth up to £2,000.

The one-of-a-kind offer is being made by Digital Skills Scotland as it seeks to help create a more skilled workforce across the country.

To qualify, companies must sign up three or more employees on to a fully funded digital skills course, which aims to improve the skills needed to increase the competitiveness of SMEs and give the best opportunity to grow the economy and create more and better jobs.

Course content includes units on social media and how to maximise a company’s profile on social networking sites, writing digital promotional content that gets across the correct message to new and old customers and how to use Search Engine Optimisation effectively to get your website found quicker by new customers on Google searches.

A Government report highlighted the fact 12.6 million adults in the UK lack basic digital skills, while 5.8 million have never used the internet at all.

It also claimed the digital skills gap is costing the UK economy an estimated £63 billion a year in the lost potential for additional GDP.

The Level 2 NCFE accredited distance-learning course aims to meet the demand for digital media for businesses and is online so employees can complete the course at their own speed.

A spokesman for Digital Skills Scotland said: “The UK leads Europe on tech, but we need to take concerted action to avoid falling behind online.

“We are all spending more and more time on our mobiles, tablets and laptops, while many of our working days are also spent in front of a screen.

“That’s why businesses need to understand how working practices are changing, and this course has been developed to meet this need.

“However, we wanted to take things even further and we have decided to give Scottish businesses the opportunity to build their very own mobile app via a training programme, worth up to £2,000, for free.

“This will increase their employees’ skills and help their business grow with a mobile marketing solution. An app has many benefits. It will help them be visible to customers at all times, create a direct marketing channel, provide value to their customers, build brand and recognition, improve customer engagement and stand out from their competition.”

Places are limited so act now and call Daniel Jones on 0800 254 50 51 and quote CHAMBER OFFER to secure your places and app. Alternatively visit our website at www.digitalskillsscotland.co.uk and register your interest.

Places and funding are limited and for more information visit www.digitalskillsscotland.co.uk or email Robert.white@digitalskillsscotland.co.uk.