Useful? Or simply to make government look good?

[Mr D]

From the budget:

Helping businesses grow 2.138

Help to Grow: Management – The government will offer a new UK-wide management programme to upskill 30,000 SMEs in the UK over three years. Developed in partnership with industry, the programme will combine a national curriculum delivered through business schools with practical case studies and mentoring from experienced business professionals. Over 12 weeks, and 90% subsidised by government, this programme will equip SMEs with the tools to grow their businesses and thrive.

2.139 Help to Grow: Digital – The government will launch a new UK-wide scheme in the autumn to help 100,000 SMEs save time and money by adopting productivity-enhancing software, transforming the way they do business. This will combine a voucher covering up to half of the costs of approved software up to a maximum of £5,000, and free impartial advice, delivered through an online platform.27

 

[Andy Harris]

Fine if you're a business of 5+ employees but no good to the vast majority of much smaller businesses who could benefit. Many businesses will be 3-4 people and would be excluded but would clearly benefit otherwise.

 

[Aniela]

Fine if you're a business of 5+ employees but no good to the vast majority of much smaller businesses who could benefit. Many businesses will be 3-4 people and would be excluded but would clearly benefit otherwise.

Its purpose is to grow businesses to generate more tax.

That's why it's targets the larger small businesses, because that's where the most tax benefits would be seen.

 

[BustersDogs]

Have to be a limited company to get help to grow digital. Shame as I'm looking to go more digital this year when I take staff on again.

 

[mattk]

What I don't understand is that there is a vast array of excellent courses online for free. Why are the Govt spending taxpayer's money lining the pockets of these providers?

 

[Aniela]

What I don't understand is that there is a vast array of excellent courses online for free. Why are the Govt spending taxpayer's money lining the pockets of these providers?

It's hard to tax the growth of a company that is not charging anything.

 

[IWW Limited]

Feels like a lot of disconnect here; are they looking at this with a pair of ROI glasses on or genuine help for ALL businesses, I think it's ROI driven, increase tax.

 

[Aniela]

Feels like a lot of disconnect here; are they looking at this with a pair of ROI glasses on or genuine help for ALL businesses, I think it's ROI driven, increase tax.

There is no disconnect.

Any scheme like this run by the government is always to generate taxes/stimulate the economy or other similar thing.

Hence the restrictions for these, as they're not available to all businesses. It's being provided to the businesses that will likely benefit the most from it and therefore generate the most tax over time.

 

[Irontoe]

Why are the Govt spending taxpayer's money lining the pockets of these providers?

It’s not as if they have any previous doing such a thing is it?

Watch out for lots of friends and family of conservative MPs setting up companies that specialise in ‘productivity enhancing software’.

 

[Irontoe]

Does anyone have any idea what ‘productivity enhancing software’ actually is?

 

[Pish_Pash]

If you're driven and savvy you don't need to be spoon fed.

There are a whole gamut of YouTube instructional videos and specialist forums, where somebody will be able to help if you're stuck... Personally I think anybody that hasn't already deployed time-saving tools ought to consider with their fit to be in business.

Yet more state intervention.... We'll end up as North Korea

 

[Aniela]

Does anyone have any idea what ‘productivity enhancing software’ actually is?

It's a bit more broad than that. We don't have further information but they've said it will be software/tools that:

• Build customer relationships and increase sales
• Make the most of selling online
• Manage their accounts and finances digitally

I'm going to assume it will be things like Quickbooks, Salesforce, eCommerce multi-channel software etc.

 

[Aniela]

If you're driven and savvy you don't need to be spoon fed.

There are a whole gamut of YouTube instructional videos and specialist forums, where somebody will be able to help if you're stuck... Personally I think anybody that hasn't already deployed time-saving tools ought to consider with their fit to be in business.

Yet more state intervention.... We'll end up as North Korea

Seeming as it's only available to decently sized businesses, it makes your point a bit moot. If they were eligible they've kind of proved they know what they're doing some-what, even if they've been doing everything the long way round.

Didn't you have an issue with an ex-wife and money recently, or something. We wouldn't argue that your not fit to be in business because you didn't consider that when letting her be part of the business. Some things in business just happen, aren't always done efficiently etc but can still work amazingly well.

It's not really time-saving tools that are going to be offered per say. It will be more sales relationship tools etc. (We assume based on what they're saying.)

 

[Paul Norman]

The wording is precise. It relates only to approved software, which means, I suspect, software produced by a blood relative of Matt Hancock, or his local pub landlord, or, in exceptional circumstances, the bloke he met down the park when he was breaking the lockdown rules.

 

[apricot]

They both are great offers! I am very impressed how supportive they've become for small/medium companies.