smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Are you working too hard?

News that UK entrepreneurs are clocking up 50-hour weeks will...
Have your say »

RSS

IT can 'really help transform' SMEs

Dec 04 2007

IT can help businesses source, operate and sell globally, as well as just ensuring services run more efficiently, says an industry body.

The British Computer Society (BCS) states that it is becoming harder to do business without IT, while if this side of a business is handled correctly it can afford an SME a market advantage.

David Evans, BCS government relations manager says: 'Whether it is in terms of subcontracting, manufacturing, operations, customer relationships or marketing, IT can help drive a business.'

He adds: 'What it boils down to is whether small businesses want to be in control of their IT, or at its mercy.'

IT mistakes can have serious repercussions within a business says the BCS. As a result they believe it is important to hire practitioners who have been attained industry standards such as Chartered IT professionals (CITP).

The BCS was established in 1957 and is the leading body for those working in IT. It has a world-wide membership of 60,000 members in over 100 countries.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

Enter our prize draw!!

You've probably noticed smallbusiness.co.uk has a brand new look. You can personalise the homepage to suit your needs and there's lots of new content including video, blogs and the small business resource centre.

We're interested to know what you think about the new small business site, so we'd like you to take this opportunity to have your say. All entrants will be entered into our free prize draw to win a bottle of champagne provided by our partners at Laithwaites! Enter here

Polls

Latest News

Call for wider Manchester congestion charge vote

Greater Manchester's Chamber of Commerce is calling on local authorities to offer more business owners the opportunity to vote on the city's proposed congestion charge, it has been reported.

BPF: Lower rent bad news for small firms

Experts are saying the recent drop in rent on shops is not good news for retail businesses as it will result in lesser availability of premises.

Do not rely on virtual offices, association warns

Although virtual offices can be useful for keeping a business going after a disaster, it can be difficult to rely on them for the long term, an industry expert warns.

Better health and safety info could save £300m, BERR says

Improving the health and safety information available to small firms could save them £300 million in total, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) claims.

Boris promises support for London's small shops

London mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to help the capital's small shops by ensuring more affordable small premises are available in new developments.

Firms urged to set up volunteering schemes

Volunteering England has launched a campaign to encourage SMEs to give more to charities by setting up employer supported volunteering (ESV) schemes.

IRM: Virtual offices getting more accepted

Consumers are increasingly accepting of businesses running from virtual offices rather than bricks and mortar buildings, according to the Institute of Risk Management (IRM).

'Underinsurance leaves firms open to claims'

Many small businesses are underinsured - meaning that they could potentially face legal claims amounting to more than £3 billion, according to research.

Energy efficiency could save £2.5bn, says think-tank

British businesses could save £2.5 billion in costs if they implemented energy-efficiency savings, new research from the Carbon Trust shows.

BCC: High-speed rail not enough

Having a high-speed rail network is not enough to solve the business disadvantages caused by a 'crumbling transport infrastructure', according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Environment Agency launches green campaign

The Environment Agency claims that greater compliance with environmental regulation could save millions of pounds for small businesses.

Guides & Tips

Office space dilemmas

Moving offices will test your financial skills and your ability to forecast how the company is set to grow.

Checklist: Choosing business premises

When deciding what sort of property is best to house your business, there are a plethora of issues to consider. This list brings together all you need to think about in one place.

Go green in the office

Recycling is now a way of life for many of us – in the home at least. It seems that the green message is finally filtering through as we become more aware of behaviours and actions that can have a negative impact on the environment.

Don't Miss

Can you afford to ignore the flood risk?

Can you afford to ignore flood risk?

Small businesses are more at risk from flooding than fire - and the effects can be 30 times as costly as burglary - yet many businesses still do not have any measures in place to protect their property or staff from flooding, says , the Environment Agency.

Webchat: Boost efficiency, save money and help the environment

Boosting efficiency in the office is one of the simplest ways to cut waste and save money yet many UK companies are failing to do this. Webchats.tv is hosting a live discussion giving advice on how you can boost your efficiency as a business and save the planet at the same time.

Top 10 Property tips

Smallbusiness.co.uk's Top Ten Property Tips offer invaluable advice on your business' property needs, providing hints on finding the ideal location, utilising your office space and negotiating deals.

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.