NBN training kit for businesses delivering professional services

Legal professionals, ICT consultants, architects, engineers and financial advisers will soon be able to access tailored advice on how to improve and build their businesses by using the National Broadband Network (NBN) and adapting to the digital economy.

The Australian Services Roundtable (ASR) will receive $500,000 in federal government funding to develop a digital business kit to help the sector get online and use the NBN to drive productivity.

Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy Kate Lundy announced the grant while visiting the Financial Services Council, which will benefit from the development of the ASR Digital Business Kit.

“For businesses to take full advantage of the NBN they need targeted information, as well as an understanding of how leading small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their industry sector are using the internet and online tools,” said Senator Lundy.

“The online opportunities for the professional services industry are endless, and the kit will demonstrate how embracing the NBN and the digital economy can help businesses reach new customers and increase trade, as well as find efficiencies and reduce operating costs.

“Many architects and engineers are realising the power enabler that is the NBN and how, through increased speeds, SMEs are able to share and relay blueprints, designs and drawings with clients in Australian and overseas.

“The NBN is delivering a world-class communications network, which will allow our lawyers, architects, engineers and financial advisers to flourish in Australia and globally.

“This digital business kit for lawyers, architects, engineers and financial advisers will include a suite of online and real-time training tools such as cloud-based applications, business case studies, interactive small-group training sessions and webinars.

“The ASR business kit will help the thousands of SMEs get on board and benefit from the NBN in both the national and global marketplace,” said Senator Lundy.

The kit will be regularly updated to incorporate new ways of making use of the NBN as these emerge in the sector.  The Australian Services Roundtable will promote the kit to industry to raise awareness.

The Rudd Labor government is providing a total of $5 million to develop digital business kits for 10 industry sectors. Funding for this grant is already provided for in the Budget.