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Posted: Thu 10th Jul 2025
Introduced in 2021 to help businesses struggling though the pandemic, business.connected has evolved to become Vodafone's flagship small business support initiative.
Having celebrated its fourth birthday earlier this year, Vodafone has introduced a new core goal for the programme which is both ambitious and urgent – to digitally upskill one million UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by the end of this year.
To date, business.connected has already assisted 800,000 SMEs in embracing new technologies to help grow their businesses, which leaves a remaining target of 200,000 to reach over the next six months.
Delivered in partnership with small business support platform and membership community Enterprise Nation, business.connected offers high-quality, accessible training across a wide range of digital topics.
SMEs can participate through online webinars, digital workshops and in-person events tailored to their specific needs.
As a core pillar of Vodafone's broader everyone.connected initiative – which aims to combat digital exclusion across the UK – this expanded ambition reflects Vodafone's continued commitment to empowering SMEs with the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
To help reach its target, the initiative – which provides free digital skills training and support – is expanding with the addition of a series of specialist regional bootcamps across the UK in Edinburgh (26 September), London (17 October) and Cardiff (6 November), offering in-person training tailored to the needs of local businesses.
The sessions will focus on strategies for building a successful digital business, including finding your ideal customer, developing a brand, social media strategy, keeping your business safe and using AI for content creation.
Nick Gliddon, CEO of Vodafone Business UK, said:
"business.connected is Vodafone's flagship initiative to help small businesses thrive – and that's more critical than ever. SMEs are facing significant economic pressures, from inflation and rising costs to the ongoing need to adapt to a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
"Through business.connected, we're proud to offer meaningful support that empowers small businesses to build resilience and seize new opportunities.
"We're also continuously looking at innovative and accessible ways to engage this time-poor but vital community – ensuring we meet them where they are and deliver real value when they need it most.
"By setting a new target of reaching one million SMEs this year, we're reaffirming our commitment to ensuring every business, no matter its size or location, has the tools and confidence to thrive in the digital age – all powered by our market leading network."
Aaron Asadi, CEO of Enterprise Nation, added:
"business.connected has already played an incredibly important role in upskilling the UK's entrepreneurs with digital confidence and vital tools that are already helping them to improve productivity and maintain competitiveness.
"In today's rapidly evolving economy, digital business skills are fundamental for every business from high-street bakers to plumbers and everything in between. Technology helps businesses to adapt income streams, become more resilient to future shocks and shape their future success.
"We're delighted to be working with Vodafone Business to reach more businesses and achieve this ambitious milestone."
Following the merger between Vodafone and Three UK, the new company has committed to investing £11 billion to develop the UK's digital infrastructure, delivering a cutting-edge nationwide 5G standalone network that enhances connectivity, supports innovation, and drives economic growth.
To find out more about business.connected visit:
ENDS
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Tuesday 29 July 2025: Ready, set, launch: Essential digital tools to grow your new business
Tuesday 5 August 2025: Using AI tools to create content for your business
Tuesday 2 September 2025: Digital marketing that works: Practical advice for small businesses
Vodafone is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK's first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK's first live holographic call using 5G in 2018.
We were also the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester. As of March 2022, we have 5G in 380 locations across Europe – 141 in the UK and 239 across Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland. Our 4G network coverage currently reaches more than 99% of the UK population.
Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. To help deliver Gigabit UK, our full-fibre broadband roll-out programme now covers 26 UK towns and cities, rising to 35 over the coming months through partnerships with CityFibre and Openreach. Our full fibre services are now available to more than eight million homes across the UK.
For more information about Vodafone UK please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk
