Firms look to digital to aid recovery

67% of small businesses have already sought help

Nearly half of the UK’S small businesses say they need to upskill on digital to help them through the pandemic, according to a recent survey run by Lloyds Banking Academy and Small Business Britain.

The Small Business Recovery and Support Survey found 60% of small firms want help with marketing and sales, while over a third want to enhance their online sales/ecommerce.

Digital support service Superfast Business Wales has seen first-hand how the coronavirus has led to an upsurge in businesses asking for help to move products, services, and workplaces online, many for the first time, as the nation went into lockdown.

During April 2020 to April 2021, it delivered specialist advice to nearly 1,000 businesses, with a further 4,420 taking advantage of its free webinars.

COVID forced us to change how we worked

Having already taken the first steps of a digital overhaul before the pandemic struck, Smart Money Cymru Credit Union reached out to Superfast Business Wales for an objective review of what they had planned.

CEO Mark White explains: “We’d perhaps fallen behind a bit in terms of new technology over the last few years, but COVID-19 forced us to change how we worked.”

Vice Chair Geraint Jones adds: “We’d built a list of areas to focus on, but it was a huge advantage to get impartial advice from our digital business adviser, Cath Padfield.

“Our one-to-one session with Cath highlighted new areas where we could improve processes, plus it gave us the confidence to press on with the bits we’d already marked for changes.”

“Digital has made things cheaper and easier. If we’re going to come out of the other side of this pandemic fitter and stronger, we need to have digital on our side,” Mark concludes.

To find out about the free support available, including webinars and tailored advice, search online: Superfast Business Wales, email: superfast@businesswales.org.uk or call 03332 408329.