£8m Business Basics Fund launched to help small firms become more digital
The fund will enable big business to support small business adopt technology
The government has today announced details of a new Business Basics Fund, targeting 100bn in untapped economic potential.
Launched as part of the government’s industrial strategy, the 8m fund seeks to help more of England’s small business owners adopt tried and tested technologies to drive greater productivity.
The fund is being delivered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in partnership with Innovate UK, which will assist businesses, charities, trade organisations and public sector organisations support small business owners with their digital transformation.
Small business minister, Andrew Griffiths, announced the fund during a speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), after new CBI research found that greater of adoption among small firms of technologies such as cloud computing, mobile technology and e-purchasing, could unlock a £100bn dividend for the UK economy.
Griffiths said: With more than 1, 000 new businesses starting up every day, and it is vital that we support them to grow through our modern industrial strategy.
the Business Basics Fund will test new and innovative ways of supporting small businesses to take advantage of technologies and management practices giving small business leaders the tools and support they need to continue to thrive.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Demystifying digital at your micro business To support the digital transformation of Britain’s micro businesses, were inviting readers to assess their company’s own journey and the challenges ahead.
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Details about available funding and the application process is available from the?Innovation Funding Service. 2m has been made available in the opening round of the Business Basics Fund.
Commenting on Britain’s productivity challenges, Matthew Fell, CBIuK chief policy director, said: Put simply, UK businesses must do more to improve their productivity to get themselves match fit to compete globally in the years ahead. Low uptake of the nuts and bolts technologies of today is a key feature of the productivity puzzle that can, and must, be tackled.
UK business technology adoption levels are close to the EU average but far behind the front runners, lagging nearly a decade behind the Danes.
Praseeda Nair is the editorial director of Business Advice, and its sister publication for growing businesses, Real Business. She's an impassioned advocate for women in leadership, and likes to profile business owners, advisors and experts in the field of entrepreneurship and management.
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The fund will enable big business to support small business adopt technology
Demystifying digital at your micro business
