Amazon to help out small businesses

Businesses in Fife are being urged to sign up for a new free support package from Amazon that aims to help 200,000 small businesses bounce back from the economic lockdown.

Bosses at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline are encouraging businesses to sign up for the firm’s Small Business Accelerator, which is offering a free online training programme for participants.

Those taking part will also be able to access new benefits ranging from discounts on business supplies and protective equipment to dedicated web service training and other partner offers.

Amazon and Enterprise Nation are similarly running week-long bootcamps to provide additional, tailored personal training and expertise for up to 1,000 mostly offline start-ups and small businesses to help them trade online.

The first virtual Amazon Academy is taking place tomorrow, a free two-hour event to introduce businesses to the world of selling online.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy in Dunfermline and by helping them we can help families, communities and the UK bounce back more quickly,” said Jamie Strain, senior operations manager at Amazon in Dunfermline.

“Amazon in Dunfermline is passionate about supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses, with more than half of all products sold on Amazon stores coming from our selling partners. Many businesses have found their way through the crisis by providing goods and services online.

“Now the Amazon Small Business Accelerator with Enterprise Nation will provide thousands of offline and online businesses with the skills, tools and support they need to succeed in the digital world, to reach customers through Amazon or any other service.”

Amazon says it is helping thousands of small businesses with storage and removal fee waivers for new selling partners on Fulfilment by Amazon, while Amazon Launchpad, the company’s programme showcasing new start-ups, has offered fee relief and online training on funding, marketing and other topics.

Amazon in Dunfermline.