Majority of small firms lack basic digital skills

Technology :56% of SM Es do not even have a website, according to survey

More than half of Scotland’s small businesses lack the basic skills needed to take advantage of the digital revolution, a new report has warned.

Of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) questioned in a major study by Bank of Scotland, 56% did not have their own websites and the same proportion said they did not use

“Forg rowth, it’s essential that businesses have the right skills”

social media for business. The bank voiced concern that 65% of respondents were making no investment in digital skills.

Philip Grant, ambassador for Scotland for Bank of Scotland owner Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Digital technology continues to offer tremendous opportunities for Scotland’s business community, increasing sales, improving productivity and opening up international markets. But to leverage this, it’s essential that businesses have the right skills.”

Almost a quarter of Scottish firms in the UK-wide survey said security concerns were holding them back from doing more digitally, with less than a third confident they had the skills to prevent online fraud and scams. A lack of staff with digital skills was cited by 22%.

While hailing some “fantastic operators using digital technologies to drive growth, sales and efficiencies”, Andy Willox, the Federation of Small Businesses’ Aberdeen-based Scottish policy convener, urged firms in all sectors to seek advice to avoid losing out to better equipped rivals.

He added: “Businesses need to prepare for the digital revolution com- ing to every sector of the economy. They need to imagine a similar level of change that we’ve seen on the high street coming to construction or professional services.”

DIGITAL DILEMMA: Security concerns and a lack of skilled staff are among the reasons companies give for lagging behind on IT