The Amazon Academy headed to Newport in Wales today, offering practical advice for SMEs from across the country to help them sell online and grow their business.

Since launching in 2016, the Amazon Academy programme has helped over 2,500 SMEs from across the UK learn how to grow their businesses through greater digital adoption. Today’s Amazon Academy hosted over 300 Welsh SMEs, and was run in partnership with Enterprise Nation, the Department for International Trade, Be the Spark, Superfast Business Wales and Be the Business.

Russell George

Amazon is the saviour of the high street, it saved our business
Russell George, Welsh Assembly Member and small e-commerce family business owner.

Speaking on stage, Russell George AM, Chair of the Welsh Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee, welcomed the news that Welsh businesses achieved export sales of more than £100m last year by selling on Amazon, helping to support more than 3,000 jobs in Wales.

He also announced that as well as being a member of the Welsh Assembly, he runs a small business with a physical store who is now selling online, saying “Amazon is the saviour of the high street, it saved our business”.