BCS members are being invited to share their expertise with the millions of small businesses that need tech advice. This follows BCS joining the tech coalition behind Tech Hub. This major new national initiative is designed to scale tech adoption and boost digital investment and skills amongst the UK’s small and mid-sized business (SMB) community.
BCS members can access an exclusive free month, and will feature on the UK Tech Hub, a new one-stop-shop solution that allows small businesses to access industry-leading digital tools, training, and expertise.
The universal hub for the UK’s 5.6m SMBs aims to upskill, up-tool and embed technology into their business.
The hub is supported by British telecommunications leader Vodafone UK, global tech innovation firm Cisco, market leading SMB technology companies Sage and Google and built by business support specialist Enterprise Nation.
BCS has also become part of the Tech Consortium, joining policy leads from major technology brands to discuss how digital performance amongst SMBs can be boosted across the UK.
Emma Jones, CBE, founder and CEO of Enterprise Nation, said: “We’re delighted to welcome BCS and its IT professional members to provide expert insight and accredited support to the millions of businesses that need tech advice.
“Tech Hub is the merging of technology pioneers who agree we must use every possible resource to unlock new tech ambition, boost productivity and maximise possibilities for the UK’s economy.”
According to the World Economic Forum, the UK ranks 31st in the world for tech and ICT adoption.
Enterprise Nation’s latest report includes a survey in which 70% of respondents cited the cost of software licences as the main reason why they hadn't yet adopted technology. But skills and confidence also play pivotal roles in how tech transforms businesses, preventing too many businesses from fully harnessing the potential of even the most widely adopted tech tools.
Research from Sage’s Digital Britain: How Small Businesses are turning the tide on tech report found enhanced tech adoption could unlock £232bn for the UK economy.
Emma added: “The Help to Grow: Digital initiative was a brilliant idea in principle, but it closed earlier this year. We need to build on what it achieved, and Tech Hub is perfectly placed to help with this.”
Holly Porter, managing director – Institute at BCS said: “We welcome the opportunity to open up the Enterprise Nation advisory route to our professional members. Small and medium-sized companies are the backbone of the UK economy. However, unlike their larger counterparts, they don’t always have direct access to IT experts to help navigate and benefit from tech innovations like, for instance, AI.
“If small businesses are to grow, they need support in this area. Over the years, we have all seen the headlines of the cost of the wrong decisions on partners for digital transformation projects. With over 70,000 members across different specialisms of technology and industry backgrounds, BCS has a wealth of experience to offer.”
For you
Be part of something bigger, join BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Tech Hub is free to use and works by automatically analysing individual technology requirements and confidence levels and generating practical digital recommendations based on expert knowledge and guided by real experience.
Why BCS members should get involved
Showcase your profile to thousands of business owners seeking expertise:
- Offer your services to the community and gain new clients
- Speak at events from flagship shows to daily online webinars
- Promote your own workshops by uploading them onto the platform
- Publish educational content and share your knowledge with the community
- Access small business insights with a dedicated adviser newsletter
To find out more and details of how to sign up with an exclusive code available only to BCS members head over to MyBCS.
What type of expertise the community are looking for in tech experts
Enterprise Nation is looking for advisers who:
- Thrive on being part of a supportive community
- Understand the benefits that digital adoption can have for a small business owner
- Have expertise helping small firms leverage technology products
- Can guide small businesses to adopt digital tools that improve their business.
- Digital tools span across email marketing, design, CRM suites, AI etc etc.
- Are willing and able to take part in hosting webinars and practical workshops
Read about the Tech Hub here, which offers Enterprise Nation members the opportunity to access recommendations and resources to help small businesses adopt new technology.
About Tech Hub
Tech Hub is a collaboration between Cisco, Google, Sage and Vodafone Business and built by Enterprise Nation. It is an accessible ‘one stop shop’ solution developed to support small businesses to adopt the technology they need to run and grow their ventures while helping to boost the nation’s productivity.
About Enterprise Nation
Enterprise Nation is a business support platform and provider delivering support to more than 800,000 small businesses every year. It is a membership organisation on track to have 120k members by the end of 2023. Its aim is to help people turn their good ideas into great businesses – through expert advice, events, acceleration support and networking.
Enterprise Nation was founded in 2005 by British entrepreneur Emma Jones CBE, also co-founder of national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain.
