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HE UK GOVERNMENT
T launched its Help to Grow : Digital scheme – designed to support smaller businesses in adopting digital technologies so they can grow – earlier this year .
Under the scheme , eligible businesses can receive discounts of up to £ 5,000 off the retail price of approved Digital Accounting and CRM software from leading technology suppliers , to help them effectively manage their finances and build customer relationships .
Businesses can also access practical , specialised support and advice on how to choose the right digital technologies to boost their growth and productivity through a new online platform .
Through Help to Grow : Digital , the government is providing business leaders with the advice and funding they need to embrace digital technology and help their business grow .
Daniel Harrison , Head of SME policy at the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy , tells us more . . .
How have SMEs embraced digitalisation ?
Many UK businesses have embraced digitalisation . For instance , 85 % of SME employers are using accountancy software and around 25 % are using technology or web-based software to sell to customers online , according to the Longitudinal Small Business Survey 2020 .
However , the UK has a longstanding productivity gap compared to our international competitors and one of the key reasons for this gap is the low adoption of basic digital technologies .
Although uptake of digital technologies is improving – and has accelerated during the pandemic – rates of adoption remain significantly below where we would like them to be .
Businesses face significant barriers to technology adoption , which the Help to Grow scheme aims to address .
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ALTHOUGH UPTAKE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES IS IMPROVING , AND HAS ACCELERATED DURING THE PANDEMIC , RATES OF ADOPTION REMAIN SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW WHERE WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE .
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