Google is offering any US business more than $100,000 worth of online courses free of charge. 

The offer comes through the tech giant’s Career Certificates program, which was launched in 2018. 

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Google has designed the courses and sells them through the online education service Coursera. Each course typically costs students around $39 per month and typically takes between three and six months to finish. Google is offering to cover the cost for up to 500 workers at an American business, valuing it is grant at more than $100,000 as students tend to finish courses in six months. 

More than 70,000 people in the US, plus around 205,000 around the world, have earned at least one certificate with Google. What’s more, 75% have received a benefit in the form of a new job or a higher salary within six months of completion, according to Google. 

Grow with Google, which oversees the certificates, with courses in IT support, project management, e-commerce and digital marketing. This includes a new Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certificate which is endorsed by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. 

“It’s no secret that businesses of all sizes are struggling to acquire and retain talent,” said Lisa Gevelber, the founder of Grow with Google. “Those who create growth opportunities for their employees have a much better shot at retaining them. 

“No experience is required, and employees can earn an industry-recognised credential in three to six months of part-time study. For every scholarship we give, a business will be gaining capabilities and, at the same time, an employee will be growing new skills.”

The need for digital skills has been highlighted by the pandemic and several high profile tech firms have offered various discounts on cloud-based training. In September Oracle gave free access to training and certificates for its Cloud Infrastructure. Similarly, AWS pledged to train 29 million people around the world to use cloud computing.