Government web campaign ‘great for sector’
03/03/10 | 11:14
The backlash against the new Getting British Business Online campaign (GBBO) from the independent website development community is unnecessary, one web company has claimed.
The campaign, a partnership between big industry players such as Google, BT and PayPal, faced stiff opposition when it was announced last week.
The founders of DIY website service Mr Site, criticised Business Secretary Lord Mandelson for supporting a scheme initiated by non-UK giants over home-grown small businesses.
Stuart Spice and Beatrice Hatherley said the initiative risked ‘undermining the long-term commercial viability of the UK web sector’ that earns its livelihood from selling similar packages.
However, Simon Kimber, director of Brighton-based web company create.net, believes the scheme is ‘a great thing for the sector’.
He said: “Web designers should not see the launch of GBBO as a danger or a threat. Free template options for businesses have been around for some time now, and independents have always maintained their clientele.”
Kimber said it was always a matter of ‘when, and not if’ Google entered the sector and that the service would only appeal to businesses whose choices were limited to free offerings.
He added: “GBBO is a good thing. It will allow businesses to get directly involved in building a basic website. Once they are ready to take off the training wheels, services like Create will be there to help them take their online presence to the next level.”
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