Important survey on the IT capabiliites of home-based businesses in
West Kent is launched

A boost to the IT capabilities of home-based businesses in West Kent is planned by the West Kent Partnership.  Home-based businesses in the districts of Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling are being contacted in a West Kent-wide survey to assess their views on their businesses and IT.  Businesses can also complete the survey on line at <http://www.sysurvey.com/wkp.asp>.  More information is available from either the West Kent Partnership Co-ordinator on 07970 551598 or The Federation of Small businesses on: 01622 688134

In launching the survey, Chairman of the Partnership’s Business Development Group, Roger House, explains,

 The purpose is to support the very small businesses that form such a large part of our economy. Their importance to our rural economy is recognised. We are solely interested in home-based businesses in this project, and the reliance placed by them on technology. How much time and money do these businesses waste on poor technology? How much better off could their businesses be with the proper use of technology? Indeed are they even aware of the range of affordable new technology products available to them? We are looking at the viability of developing accessible support structures for home based-businesses that will make them even more competitive. As far as we know, nothing like this has been attempted before in this part of the business sector.

Funded by SEEDA, the Regional Development Agency, the survey is the first stage in a major study assessing the IT requirements for home-based businesses across West Kent.