Facebook is helping to create jobs and develop digital skills in India
| Facebook’s Online Training Hubs – launching first in India – aim to train more than half a million people in India by 2020
November 22, Chennai: Today we’re introducing Facebook Digital Training and Facebook Startup Training Hubs, personalized online learning to help small businesses and people in India grow by giving them the digital skills they need to compete in today’s digital economy. Aiming to train more than half a million people in India by 2020, these online training hubs, which are being rolled out first in India and have been developed with local organizations, will provide digital skills and training for people in need of work, advise entrepreneurs how to get started and help existing businesses and nonprofits get the most out of the internet. We worked with local organizations, including Digital Vidya, EDII, DharmaLife and StartupIndia, to develop the learning curriculum, which is personalised to the individual’s needs and available in English and Hindi on mobile. The curriculum includes vital skills for digital skill seekers and tech entrepreneurs, including how to protect your ideas, how to hire, how to go about getting funding, what regulations and legal hurdles you need to consider, how to build an online reputation, and a whole host of other critical skills required to succeed in today’s digital world. This could mean teaching a small business owner how to create an online presence; helping a non-profit reach new communities and potential donors; or it could mean helping a tech entrepreneur turn their product idea into a startup through practical business advice.
We will continue to add lessons and content in the coming months, adapting the curriculum based on people’s feedback. The digital economy is already delivering significant value in India. According to new research by Morning Consult in partnership with Facebook, small businesses’ use of digital translates into new jobs and opportunities for communities across the country: |
We know that digital skills are important when people are looking for jobs:
Since 2011 Facebook has invested more than $1 billion to support small businesses globally. Facebook Boost Your Business and SheMeansBusiness has trained more than 60,000 small businesses, including 12,000 women entrepreneurs, in India. We want to do more to support communities across India. We want to help businesses and startups grow, and we want to help people acquire the digital skills they need to get a job and grow in today’s digital world. It’s why we’re introducing our online training hubs:
If you want to support your community or you work for a non-profit, our training hubs will provide training on how to connect with people and build an online presence for you cause or community. Ritesh Mehta, Head of Programs, Facebook, India & South Asia, said, “Digital skills unlock opportunities, empower people to dream big, build products, grow businesses and foster communities. We believe the best way to prepare India for a digital economy is by equipping people with the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to succeed. We want more people to be have the opportunity to build their skills, build a business or build something for their community — because investing in people can lead to incredible things.” Deepak Bagla, Managing Director & CEO Invest India, said, “India’s entrepreneurs are changing; each day more businesses begin and are as varied as they are innovative. But a great idea is just a beginning, success will only be achieved if we support entrepreneurs to build the business skills they need to secure sustainable business growth. Startup India Hub is proud to partner with Facebook and build a program that will provide business skills development to ensure the success of our newest entrepreneurs, our future will be brighter when we work together.” Kapil Nakra, Co-founder of Digital Vidya said, “Digital Vidya supports professionals, students, and entrepreneurs in acquiring Digital Marketing skills. Acquiring Digital Marketing skills not only create employment opportunities but it also helps professionals to improve their performance in their existing job profiles including Sales, Marketing, HR, and Product Development. We believe Digital Marketing Skills can contribute significantly to the rapid growth and transformation of India’s economy. By working with Facebook, we are committed to developing programs that will support everyone who wants to leverage digital marketing for their professional growth. These programs will everyone to grow and thrive in today’s digital world.”
Facebook India Fast Facts · 217 million people on Facebook in India · 4 million small business Pages on Facebook · More than 51,700+ small businesses trained by Facebook in India, including 12,000 women entrepreneurs, through Boost and SheMeansBusiness · 42% of people on Facebook in India are connected to at least one SMB in a foreign country · 65% of people on Facebook in India are connected to at least one SMB in India · More than 250 million people from around the world are connected to a business in India · In the last five years (between 2012 and 2016), the number of new women-owned SMB Pages on Facebook in India has increased seven-fold, growing 85% year on year from 2015 to 2016. Facebook Economic Impact survey · 73% small and medium-sized businesses on Facebook in India built their business on the platform · 81% of small and medium-sized businesses on Facebook in India say they have been able to hire more employees due to growth in demand since joining the platform · 81% of small and medium-sized businesses on Facebook in India say they have increased sales because of the platform · 86% of small and medium-sized business on Facebook in India believe the platform allows them to sell products or services in other countries, states or counties · 88% of small and medium-sized businesses on Facebook in India state that the platform helps them attract customers · 93% of small and medium-sized businesses say digital and social media skills are important when thinking about hiring a new employee, more important than where an applicant went to school The survey was conducted among 1000 small and medium sized businesses and 5000 consumers in India by Morning Consult. Respondents for the SMB survey worked at small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees and were employed full-time or were self-employed. |