In response to coronavirus and the impact of the economic lockdown on small businesses, the Amazon Small Business Accelerator will launch with a free online training programme to help 200,000 businesses at every stage.

From today, businesses can take a quick online diagnostic test to find the learning path that best fits with the current stage of their business – ‘Start’, ‘Grow’ or ‘Turbo’. Participants will also access new benefits designed to help them, ranging from discounts on business supplies and protective equipment from Amazon Business, to dedicated Amazon Web Services (AWS) training and partner offers.

As part of the Accelerator, Amazon and Enterprise Nation will run week-long bootcamps to provide additional, tailored personal training and expertise for up to 1,000 mostly offline startups and small businesses to help them trade online.

Businesses across fashion, beauty & wellbeing, food & drink, services, and home & leisure will join a five-day live online course with access to experts and peer-to-peer networking. Bootcamp participants can also access 12 months of support from a wide range of accredited advisors covering topics on marketing, operations and managing finances as well as a range of benefits including discounts and credits from Amazon and partners.

The first ever virtual Amazon Academy is taking place on Friday 26 June – a free two-hour event to introduce businesses to the world of selling online – ideal for people who want to learn more before they embark on the Amazon Small Business Accelerator.

Entrepreneur and former Dragons’ Den investor Jenny Campbell will be sharing her business story and insights on what entrepreneurs should consider when looking for investments and scaling a business. The event will also include industry leaders and talks from Amazon experts on the best ways to address the business challenges presented by the health crisis.

Doug Gurr, UK country manager, Amazon, said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and by helping them we can help families, communities and the UK bounce back more quickly. We have a long track record of supporting 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.”

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for economy, added: “SMEs play a crucial role in Scotland’s economy, providing 1.2 million jobs. That’s why the Scottish Government launched a £1.2 billion fund to provide lifeline grants for small and medium-sized businesses affected by coronavirus, which has to date helped thousands across the country.

“It’s also been hugely encouraging to see so many businesses adapt their approach during this pandemic, and this timely programme from Amazon will help as we work to support a sustainable recovery for Scotland’s economy.”

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.