A suite of new online courses is being rolled out by Falmouth University and partners this autumn.

The short courses are intended to provide SME businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with the digital skills to take their business to the next level and compete with market leaders in their industries.

The courses have been developed through a project part-funded by the ESF (European Social Fund) in collaboration with local educational partners to engage with businesses in the region, identify training gaps, and scout out course development opportunities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

In association with University of Exeter, Truro & Penwith College, the University of Plymouth and Cornwall College, Falmouth University’s new courses on offer will provide an opportunity for SME and business owners to level up their business with the latest thinking in UX design, digital marketing, video production and consumer behaviour expertise.

The courses have been developed as a result of extensive consultation with businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 2021 and will take place online to wrap around business commitments.

All courses run for six weeks starting in September, and businesses are encouraged to check eligibility and plan ahead. Further course dates will be announced in due course.

Falmouth’s skills and innovation project officer, Paul Short-Hurst, says the courses will provide a much needed helping hand to businesses looking to navigate the technology and tools on offer.

He said: “Business owners here in Cornwall have identified some of the greatest areas of need their businesses face when it comes to growing and upskilling and it can be a challenge to know where to begin. The eight courses we have on offer will introduce the latest tools and technologies required to navigate the online spaces and platforms businesses need in order to stay competitive.”