Government calls for better support for SMEs

Government and training agencies have teamed up to help small businesses in London exploit IT.

E-skills UK, the London Development Agency, the Learning and Skills Council and Business Link London are behind the initiative to provide better support to small firms.

The groups will put together a detailed plan between now and September that will aim to help smaller firms exploit broadband, online services and IT systems to manage and manipulate data.

News of the plan follows the publication of research by The London Skills Commission, which found that small companies lack the knowledge and experience to take advantage of information communications technology.

“Many SMEs, particularly micro businesses and those in certain sectors and areas of London, may not derive maximum benefits from ICT due to their relative lack of knowledge and resources, including skills that are needed for them to become expert purchasers and appliers of new technology,” the report concludes.