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£2m European funding trains SMEs in IT
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£2m European funding trains SMEs in IT
18 November 2009
A £2 million grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has boosted the work of TakeITon.
The ERDF, which is mananged by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), has provided the additional funding for the TakeITon programme to help small businesses access free practical support so that they can develop their ICT skills, reduce their carbon footprint and cut their energy costs.
Jan Pinkerton, TakeITon manager at EEDA, said: “Research undertaken by EEDA suggests that businesses in the East of England are limiting their success due to poor knowledge of ICT. 44% of the region’s employees feel that underutilised or inappropriate ICT is stopping them from doing their job effectively and as a result SMEs are missing out on the opportunities to run their businesses more efficiently.”
To help SMEs overcome some of these barriers, TakeITon will provide a series of free practical events for businesses, with a number of masterclasses planned for early 2010. As well as 'How-To' videos, businesses can also access a free consultation with a Business Link Advisor who will offer an ‘IT Healthcheck'. A proportion of businesses will also be eligible to receive a grant to enable them to make ICT improvements.
David Morrall, International Director, EEDA added: “In these tough economic times, it is vital that small businesses exploit advanced technologies to transform their business processes in order to survive. Initiaitives like TakeITon are important in assisting businesses to drive innovation, streamline processes and reduce their carbon footprint, as a consequence they can enjoy the financial benefits that follow.”
Jan continued: “The ERDF funding has been instrumental in the development of the existing TakeITon programme, enabling an extended reach through the production of materials for small businesses as well as ensuring a much greater focus on low carbon benefits.”
It is anticipated that the additional funding will enable 500 SMEs to attend events and interact with Business Link Advisors, and a further 650 to benefit from more intensive support over the next two and a half years.
For more information about TakeITon visit www.takeiton.org.uk
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