Kingston Business School launches funded programme to help microbusinesses use tech to grow

Posted Thursday 28 November 2019

Kingston Business School is inviting 50 leaders of microbusinesses to join a management programme that will help them engage with technology to boost their productivity.

Kingston is part of a consortium of business schools accredited by the Small Business Charter for their expertise in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs who will deliver the Leading to Grow programme, which will be offered at no cost to microbusinesses across England.

The funding for the consortium is part of the £9 million Business Basics Programme run by the Department for Business, Energy and and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK.

Firms that employ up to nine people will be able to apply to take part in free workshops on how to use digital and new technologies to improve efficiency and profitability. This is the first time that such a programme has been coordinated across the country.

Britain's 1.1 million microbusinesses employ over four million people and contribute £533 billion to the UK economy. With so many regions being covered by the programme, it is hoped that it will help a large number of microbusinesses and support economic growth in a number of areas, making a big impact on this important part of the economy.

Director of Kingston Business School's Small Business Research Centre Professor Robert Blackburn said businesses would have the opportunity to benefit from group and one to one advice about maximising the benefits of digital technology to improve productivity.

"Owners and managers will also be supported to analyse the costs and benefits so they can make informed decisions about the right technology for their company," he explained. "The Small Business Research Centre has more than 30 years of experience of undertaking research into micro-enterprises and small firms, so Kingston Business School is excellently placed to deliver this programme and make a real difference to those who sign up."

Anne Kiem, Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, said the programme would support businesses to succeed.

"We are excited to be working with business schools to help improve the productivity of a range of microbusinesses. The pace of technological advances means that today's small firms who embrace innovation will be tomorrow's success stories."

Categories: Enterprise and business, On campus, Research, Staff