LinkedIn launches SME Clinic to help businesses plan recovery

LinkedIn News launched SME Clinic – a content series that aims to help small businesses stay ahead and navigate a new world of work and disrupted economy.

The program was launched with a LinkedIn Live session featuring Fadi Ghandour, Managing Partner at Wamda Capital. Ghandour shared his experience in the start-up and SME landscape in the region, offering valuable insights on how SMEs are the ‘job creators’ of the economy and how governments should use them as strategic partners for fiscal growth. He stressed on the importance of digitization being the only way forward, where all offline businesses need to create an online presence to survive the new normal. In addition, his request to all small business owners was to never undermine the importance of networking and communication.

Globally, SMEs represent 90 per cent of businesses and more than 50 per cent of employment, according to World Bank data. In the UAE, SMEs represent more than 98 per cent of the total number of companies operating in the country, contributing towards 52 per cent of the country’s non-oil GDP, according to the Ministry of Economy. SMEs will be the key drivers of stimulating an economic recovery and getting them in the best shape possible, through knowledge sharing initiatives is vital.

With this context in mind, starting 11 November, LinkedIn News will start conversations with members about small business survival and prosperity, through creating, curating and cultivating content. LinkedIn News editors will also host prominent thought leaders from the region’s SME landscape for an ongoing series of webinars and live streams across their social media platforms. To get regular updates follow LinkedIn Editors Lynn Chouman and Salma Altantawy.

The enlisted expert speakers will discuss and analyse the trends and best practices across a range of vital sectors including finance, marketing, technology and smart infrastructure.

Speaking of the new initiative, Lynn Chouman, Editor at LinkedIn News said,

“We at LinkedIn have long supported the endeavors of small and medium enterprises as part of our commitment to provide economic opportunity for all. A big part of that is through our LinkedIn News team who bring useful, professional insights along with real member voices and experiences into the conversation on LinkedIn. And with the wealth and range of talent and expertise within LinkedIn’s community, SME clinic will bring a new and innovative way to facilitate knowledge sharing for the greater good to every business looking for ways to recover and prosper in the new normal.”

In an effort to play its part in getting the global economy back on its feet, LinkedIn has 14+ million available jobs and has recently introduced a #Hiring frame that hiring managers can add around their photo along with adding jobs directly to their profile. LinkedIn is inviting anyone who is hiring to post a job on LinkedIn for free, with the aim of benefitting small and medium businesses in particular to get their open roles onto LinkedIn.

The SME Clinic will tap into the expertise and experience of thought leaders who can help today’s entrepreneurs understand and adapt to the trends and practices that will uncover new means of productivity and business longevity.

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