smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Microsoft and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have delivered ‘a call to action for policy makers to improve the IT support system for small businesses’, says John Dunsmure, managing director of BCC.

The recommendations were compiled in line with the Government’s continuing review of the services and support provided by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The BCC and Microsoft say they ‘hope that by engaging in a dialogue with Government and the Regional Development Agencies (RDA), a better system of support can be provided for the IT needs of small businesses than currently exists’.

The following four-point action plan has been presented to the Government for review:

Awareness - A national campaign that emphasises the value of IT to small businesses. This campaign should provide a call to action that addresses small business IT illiteracy and helps with ‘my first IT purchase.’

IT adviser accreditation - Phase out the Technology Means Business service, and fund a nationwide scheme of accreditation for IT advisors, which invests in the promotion of the brand to ensure it is recognised by small businesses and taken up by the IT industry, and which formally recognises already existing private sector accreditations.

Assessing IT needs in a business context - Delivery of a properly funded and resourced business assessment tool for IT that is promoted centrally.

Connecting supply and demand - New signposting of all public and private sector IT support services including those offered by accountants, IT resellers and Government.

Microsoft believes that 'all of these key priorities could be accomplished if the Government formed a National IT Advisory Service (ITAS).' It added that 'the ITAS should include representation from each Regional Development Authority and be responsible for driving the IT strategies they set out.’

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