Launched on Friday (4 September), the Nettl Academy Scholarship scheme's syllabus includes website design, e-commerce, sales, search engine optimisation (SEO) and project management.

Each course must be completed during the student's first three months on the scheme, and there is a test at the end of each module, all of which must be passed to graduate. Some sessions will be pre-recorded for students to complete in their own time while others will be held as live video sessions as part of a group.

Nettl said the aim is to help gifted entrepreneurs to start their own business and acquire new, transferable skills.

While they are on the programme, students will get the same access to the Nettl system as a Nettl partner, including unrestricted use of every standard module and access to all the client management tools used in Nettl stores.

All licence fees are covered by a grant from Nettl's parent company Grafenia during the student's first six months.

All print and signage products sold by the student will be sourced from Nettl, with the student buying at wholesale price and selling to clients at retail price.

Nettl will invoice on the student's behalf and pay them the difference between what they bought and sold.

Any income made by the student during their training will be taxed depending on the rules of the country they live in, meaning that they would need to complete a tax return.

Nettl said it would then discuss options with them following their graduation. It hopes graduates will choose to become a Nettl partner, at which point they would be listed in the Nettl.com studio directory and be granted an exclusive territory.

However, it added there is no commitment to do so and if the student ultimately decides not to become a Nettl partner, Nettl would transfer their websites and client relationships to another Nettl location, to ensure continuity for clients.

Grafenia chief executive Peter Gunning told Printweek: “For designers, the Nettl Academy is a way for them to move their skills to other digital areas; building websites and e-commerce systems, but also getting into search engine optimisation.

“Even during lockdown, we've had the best quarter in sales of SEO and websites, despite what happened to print. So the Nettl Academy lets them learn these new skills.

“We want to help them to start their own business so they can make some money just now, while things are still nowhere near normal.

"Then when they come out the other side they will have some transferable skills with which they can go and get another job, or our preference would be that they become Nettl partners and we would help them to get started.”

The scheme is open to residents aged 18 or above from the UK, Ireland, Belgium, France and The Netherlands, and who have a Mac, an internet connection and licenced copies of InDesign and Photoshop. They must have been made redundant, have graphic design or sales skills and be self-motivated.

Nettl said it only grants one partnership per area, so can only offer scholarships to individuals in areas that do not currently have one. 100 scholarships are available in each country at any one time.

Applications are open at: www.nettlacademy.com/scholarship/