的 digital divide in the UK is causing businesses to fall behind in the race to turn operations digital. Lack of funding and low numbers of apprenticeship opportunities are just some of the factors affecting SMEs in certain areas.
Here at GAIN LINE, we want more action to be taken to help SMEs and young people. 的 “数字邮编彩票” 旨在提高人们对英国各地数字差异的认识, and what factors are causing these digital black-spots to find out where the help is needed.
的 research was conducted from multiple sources to understand the barriers SMEs face in digitisation and growth. 来源包括:Innovate UK的Smart Grants, 学徒的数字学徒空缺和1的调查,6万家英国中小企业受嘉盛委托.
受影响最严重的地区
Our research shows that SMEs outside of London are 20% less likely to receive funding for projects that can help them innovate the business.
Analysis of Innovate UK’s Smart Grants distribution shows that over a third of those awarded were organisations based in London and a sixth in the South East. Comparatively just 2% of SMEs in 威尔士 and 东北部 were awarded funding, and 3% in 苏格兰.
换算下来总共只有750英镑,在2500万英镑的智能补助金中，有1000万英镑, 东北部, 威尔士 and 苏格兰 are being disproportionately affected and businesses in these regions will find it much more difficult to implement new digital processes which can save them time and money.
在增益线, we have a track record of saving businesses money by digitising their operations. 符合节省中小企业数千英镑, 我们确保以最高的效率和速度进行操作, 不管他们在哪个地区.
当我们最需要数字工具的时候
的 long lasting effects of the pandemic are ever present within SMEs and in particular the more rural areas of 东北部 and 苏格兰.
全球最大的博彩平台所进行的研究, 我们看到，新冠疫情促使许多中小企业使用数字化工具. Around 74% admitted that the pandemic resulted in the business using digital tools to help operations continue during those testing times.
Almost 30% of businesses said that this uptake was down to the current government restrictions at the time, 由于面对面的会议变得有限，办公室开始关闭. 另外, 11% of businesses then went on to agree that the expectation of continuing to work from home enabled the opportunity for digital tools to be utilised within day to day operations.
尽管如此, our research showed that there is a direct link between lack of funds and a lack of uptake in digital tools to help with business operations during the pandemic, with more than one in ten in 苏格兰 and 东北部 lacking necessary digital tools during this time.
This once again shows the affects the digital divide has had on businesses in regions that are operating sub-optimally.
对年轻人不利
London and the south dominate other businesses across England in funding because of the digital divide, but it also puts employees in these areas at a disadvantage when looking at employing the next generation of talent in the industry.
Research into 学徒制’s Digital Apprenticeship vacancies of the last 12 months showed that 22% of the vacancies were located in London and 18% in the South East, 东北部只有5%.
机会的缺乏, 不成比例的劣势, affects young people and takes away the opportunity to improve thinking and technical skills required in the industry.
Developing digital skills in young people is crucial for their future careers. 但同时也是个人进步的必要条件, bringing in younger generations helps to keep businesses fresh with new outlooks, 以及新的技术技能.
的外卖
Rural commercial properties are much more affordable than their city-centre equivalents in places like London. Whilst this could be attractive to small business owners looking to keep overheads down, 缺乏学徒制, 获得数字赠款的机会较低, 而较慢的网速也使企业难以蓬勃发展.
It’s a missed opportunity for both the smaller businesses and the local economies, which could greatly benefit from attracting more small businesses to the area.
我们如何提供帮助
的 distribution of the sources in this research paints an accurate picture of the digital divide we currently have in Britain.
While the South and larger cities are thriving in terms of technology and innovation, 英格兰东北部的企业主, 苏格兰, 威尔士, 而更多的农村地区正在错失良机. Better messaging about digital opportunities is needed to target those these areas, 以及资助计划.
在增益线, we help SME organisations grow by digitally optimising their operations for improved efficiency, 更高的准确性和更低的操作成本.
Many SME owners and those in senior positions are unaware of just how much time and money can be saved by digitising operations.
对于一些, 做出改变似乎令人生畏, but ditching the paper offers better visibility of an organisation’s employees and inefficiencies which in turn provides valuable insight in how to run it better. Businesses that use digital services agreed that this method in day to day operations not only saves money but it increases revenue, 提高了效率, 工作能力和员工士气.
