Government backs UK entrepreneurs with tech support and software

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said:

“I want UK businesses to be primed and ready to seize all the opportunities on the horizon as we build back better from the pandemic Adopting technology means higher performance, and the Help to Grow: Digital scheme is future-proofing our small businesses and putting the UK at the forefront of the worldwide digital revolution.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:

“Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating jobs and prosperity across the UK.

“When I announced this at Budget I said we wanted to help businesses become more innovative, more competitive and more profitable and I am excited this programme allows them do that.

“Help to Grow: Digital will help them to grow and flourish by adopting new technologies that are proven to improve processes and boost productivity, levelling up their digital technology and skills.”

Mike Cherry, National Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said:

“Small businesses are often keen to embrace new technologies, but we know that 1 in 4 lack confidence in their own basic digital skills. For those small firms who are eligible, providing the means to make improvements through projects like this will make a real difference for those that are keen to expand their knowledge and skills.

“Our own research has shown that just 40% of small business owners have used applications like cloud services and online data storage or back-up. It’s crucial that practical changes like this scheme are put in place to help small firms adopt digital technologies, making improvements to their own business and driving growth.

“We’re encouraging as many eligible small firms to apply and make the most of this new scheme.”

Additional Information

The Help to Grow: Digital scheme is delivered through a new online platform

To qualify for the financial discount through Help to Grow: Digital, businesses can be from any business sector, but must meet all 4 of the following criteria:

• be a business based in the United Kingdom registered with Companies House or be a registered society on the Financial Conduct Authorities Mutuals Register
• be employing between 5 and 249 people.
• have been actively trading for over 12 months, and have an incorporation date of at least 365 days prior to application
• be purchasing the approved software for the first time
• eligible businesses will receive one financial discount towards the purchase of one approved software product up to a maximum of £5,000 (not including VAT) in Customer Relationship Management and Digital Accounting software product categories
• additional software product categories will be available with the discount soon, including e-Commerce software
• the financial discount covers 12 months’ worth of approved software product core costs, exclusive of VAT

The approved software products from technology suppliers on the Help to Grow: Digital online platform for wave 1 are:

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software:

• Zestia Ltd
• Zymplify
• Livepoint Software Solutions Ltd
• Esteiro Business Solutions Ltd
• Deskpro Ltd

Digital Accounting software:

• Sage
• Intuit Ltd
• E-crunch

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software allows businesses to store their customer contact and order data all in one secure, central location. CRM has the capability to simplify business processes and enable businesses to be more profitable and efficient.