UK online centres are for people who have limited or no access to skills in using new technologies. The centres will help people to develop the skills to use the Internet to access information, send email using a PC, mobile phone, digital television or games console; (please note not all centres will have the same facilities), and explore the opportunities that new technologies offer such as for further learning and updating skills.
—What is a UK Online Centre? (UK Dept. for Education and Skills)

Local businesses are encouraged to join the progam and have their facility identified as a UK Oline Centre. This makes sense — companies that want to make money via the Internet will benefit if the general public becomes more Internet literate.