
With technology constantly changing it can be difficult for businesses of any size to keep up. This is especially true for growing businesses that may not have the time or resources to invest in tech or the digital skills needed to use it effectively.
Big or small, there is a divide between those businesses doing tech right and those that need more support. This gap in digital skills is costing the UK economy ?3.8bn a year in missed growth. We wanted to play a part in closing this gap. So we created a free, online learning portal that gives SMEs the tools and know-how to use digital to propel their businesses. This skills hub was brought to life as a live, interactive event that toured four major cities across the UK. The Big Digital Skills Tour brought business owners together to discuss the technology challenges they face and explore how digital can help them achieve their ambitions faster. We discovered many growing businesses are excited about the potential digital offers. But understanding how to use it effectively for their own business can be a real challenge. From one man start-ups to more established SMEs, everyone wants to know how to use tech to their advantage. Currently, those doing digital well are poles apart from those yet to adopt and adapt. A massive 49 per cent of the UK?s SMEs say they don?t attract business through their website. Some 28 per cent do not have a website at all. This is surprising in our “digital age” where the first port of call for information is the Internet. Arming SMEs with basic digital skills can take their business in new and exciting directions. That?s why our workshops were designed to encourage participants to find creative solutions to business challenges. The workshops demonstrated the grit and determination UK businesses have to learn, adapt and succeed. Read more about the UK skills gap:- “Incoming government urgently needs to resolve” the digital skills shortage
- Northern companies feel the wrath of the skills gap
- Addressing the UK’s skills gap: Where should we start?
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