Help To Grow Scheme Extends To Smallest Businesses

The Government's help to grow: digital scheme has now expanded to include businesses with fewer than five employees.Over a million more businesses will now be eligible for the scheme, which has also been expanded to include one-to-one advice and additional software.

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Launched in January this year, the scheme was established to help small to medium-sized businesses purchase software and digital technologies to help them grow. Eligible businesses can get up to 50% off approved technologies, worth up to 5,000 in related costs under the scheme.

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Previously, only businesses with more than five employees were eligible, but businesses with 1 to 249 employees can now access the discounts.

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The scheme now also covers eCommerce software for the first time. Alan Mak, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said: Extending our help to grow: digital scheme will enable thousands more SMEs to become more innovative, competitive, and profitable.

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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said lowering the threshold will help SMEs grow and build the economy. The national chair for the FSB, Martin McTague, said: Reducing the threshold to one employee makes a difference in this space. Together with ecommerce software and one-to-one advice for SMEs on technology adoption, this will enable more small businesses to fulfil their growth ambitions.

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Help to grow: digital includes advice on the latest digital technologies, how to use them and how to decide on which may best serve a business. People who register also have access to case studies on businesses that have adopted new software and how it has worked for them.

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Businesses that wish to apply for the help to grow scheme can do so via the Government website.

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After a business decides on the software they wish to use, they will have 30 days to apply for a Government discount from the date of issue. Anything after the 30 days requires re-registering.