Small businesses must invest in IT training to survive

17:00 3rd December 2008

Small businesses would do well to embrace advances in information technology in order to maintain their competitive edge during the economic downturn, writes Alun Thorne in the Birmingham Post.

BT Local Business in Birmingham brought together industry leaders at an event designed to establish the ways in which SMEs can establish commercial efficiency in the face of recession.

Improving staff motivation and improving skill-sets were identified as factors that could contribute to increased efficiency as well as encouraging small businesses to utilise the support available to them from advice bodies.

Mr Thorne continues: "Technology is the key enabler of flexible working and here in Birmingham we are fortunate to have extensive wireless broadband coverage, allowing us to be productive out of the office. There are other clever ways that firms can use IT and communications to profit."

Business secretary Peter Mandelson will be injecting £30 million into SMEs within the technology sector it was announced on Monday (December 1st).