KINGSTON, Jamaica — Eligible members of the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) will be able to access selected digital services at no charge for six months under a new partnership with Liberty Business.

Members who subscribe to a qualifying Liberty Business broadband package will receive free installation and may choose three services from a menu that includes a professional website and online store, customised business email, digital marketing tools, helpdesk support, secure cloud storage and cybersecurity protection.

Liberty Business and the SBAJ signed a memorandum of understanding on July 28 at Flow’s corporate offices in Kingston.

President of the Small Business Association of Jamaica, Garnet Reid (C), and Senior Director, Liberty Business, Charles Manus (R) sign the Memorandum of Understanding which provides digital solutions to support the growth of small businesses. Looking on from left are Dwayne Walters, Senior Manager, SME and Partner Channels, Liberty Business, Kevin Frith, General Secretary, SBAJ, and Tracy Cowan-Richardson, Senior Manager, B2B Service Support, Liberty Business.

The organisations also plan to hold workshops, seminars, webinars and training sessions aimed at helping small businesses adopt technology and strengthen their digital operations.

Senior director of Liberty Business, Charles Manus, said the partnership was intended to give smaller companies access to some of the digital capabilities increasingly used by larger organisations.

“Technology is changing how businesses operate and how customers expect to engage with them, and small businesses cannot afford to be left behind,” Manus said.

“This partnership is about making those tools more accessible and giving entrepreneurs practical solutions they can use to build their businesses, improve customer engagement and operate more securely.”

SBAJ President Garnet Reid said the cost of technology and the difficulty of accessing suitable expertise remain barriers for many small businesses.

“For many small businesses, the challenge is having access to the right solutions, expertise and support at a cost that makes sense for their business,” Reid said.

He said the arrangement should help participating businesses improve efficiency, protect their operations and strengthen their online presence.

The announcement did not identify the qualifying broadband packages, provide the regular prices of the digital services or state what participating businesses would be required to pay after the six-month introductory period.