Government announces changes to digital technology scheme following successful AAT campaign
25 July 2022
Today, Monday 25 July, the government has announced changes to its Help to Grow: Digital scheme, which provides support and discounts to help small and medium-sized businesses find, buy and adopt digital technologies to improve productivity.
The changes come after a high-profile campaign led by AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) whose three key recommendations have all been accepted.
In February, AAT organised and sent a joint letter to the Small Business Minister demanding reform. Other signatories included ACCA, Coadec, the Forum for Private Business and The Entrepreneurs Network.
This correspondence included recommendations to:
- reduce the eligibility threshold from companies employing five or more staff to those employing one or more
- expand the range of software available
- broaden the range of costs that the £5,000 of available funding can cover to include 1-2-1 training and advice
Each of these recommendations have today been accepted.
In addition to ongoing engagement with officials, MPs and Peers from all parties, AAT also provided oral evidence to the BEIS Select Committee on the subject back in May.
Phil Hall, Head of Public Affairs & Public Policy at AAT said:
”AAT has always supported the ambition and objectives of this scheme because we recognise that many small and medium-sized businesses would greatly benefit from adopting new technology.
“However, we didn’t think it sensible to exclude over 90% of small businesses by requiring businesses to employ five or more staff to be eligible, and instead felt any company employing one or more individuals should be able to participate. We are delighted that government have finally accepted this. Likewise, it makes sense to expand the types of software available and to provide much needed 1-2-1 support to maximise the chances of success.”
As a result of these changes, many of AAT’s 130,000 members, and hundreds of thousands of their clients and employers will now be eligible for help from the scheme.
