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The UK government ’ s recently announced Help to Grow scheme for SMEs is aimed at boosting the next generation of entrepreneurship and innovation . As part of the scheme , SMEs will have access to a range of management training courses , online training seminars and discounted software packages . Faisal Abbasi , Managing Director Western Europe and MEMA , Amelia , tells us that the government must think carefully when it comes to choosing what digital technologies should be offered to SMEs , to ensure they continue delivering value beyond the end of the scheme .

ccording to a report by Simply

Business , nearly one quarter of a million SMEs have ceased trading as a result of the pandemic . The impact on owners and employees alike has been stark , with small businesses amongst the worst affected throughout the pandemic , without the same reserves as some larger players .

That ’ s why the government ’ s Help to Grow scheme is such an important initiative to help smaller businesses look at how they can better use technology to optimise operations and services , as well as bring new and innovative ideas to the market . In addition to supporting skills development , the digital route will provide eligible businesses up to £ 5,000 to secure a 50 % discount on productivityenhancing software .

The technologies that will revitalise our economy

With Help to Grow : Digital , the government is prioritising discounts on technology which will help businesses ‘ build customer relationships and increase sales , make the most of selling online and manage their accounts and finances digitally ’. There is no doubt that automation and Artificial Intelligence-powered ( AI ) technologies must play a key role here . The government previously published estimations that by 2035 AI could add an additional £ 630bn to the UK economy , in turn increasing the annual growth rate of GVA from 2.5 % to 3.9 %.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT AUTOMATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE- POWERED ( AI ) TECHNOLOGIES MUST PLAY A KEY ROLE HERE .