Small businesses are getting left behind in the information age and are missing out on great opportunities as a result, new research suggests.
A nation-wide study, commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), reports that 800,000 small businesses have missed out on business opportunities because of inadequate information about IT.
The report’s authors also say that although businesses recognise the benefits of IT, many do not have the right knowledge and support to use it effectively.
More than a fifth of respondents said that they have missed out on a business opportunity because they did not have the right IT.
If this pattern is applied to the UK's 3.7 million small and medium businesses then this means that 800,000 businesses are losing out.
In addition, 53% agreed with the statement that ‘small businesses do not have the access to IT knowledge and support that larger businesses do, and this can hinder business development’.
Flexible working is one development that firms are missing out on, as most firms do not know how to manage this.
Also, just 25% of firms know what advanced broadband is and how it could benefit their business.
Shelagh Coates, marketing manager for the LCC's economic regeneration team, said: "It is concerning that, although businesses are recognising the importance of technology such as advanced broadband in improving their business, few are acting on this.
"SMEs employ 12 million people in the UK and are the engine room of the economy."
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