Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Essex are being urged to boost business online as part of a Government campaign to make Britain the top commercial computer user.
Essex is already one of the leaders in the field with 79 per cent of businesses online. Nationwide the figure is 70 per cent but only 26 per cent of those actually do any buying and selling electronically.
The drive to encourage SMEs to use computers more extensively is being led by Essex County Council and Essex e-Business Club.
Co-ordinating manager for the e-Club, Gay Laight, says: "Many small businesses use computers but they do not always utilise their full potential. They might send e-mails but when it comes to buying and selling and actually conducting business they are not always aware of the possibilities or are concerned about things going wrong."
The Essex club is currently conducting a series of meetings across the county with experts brought in to allay such fears and to point out the benefits of doing business online.
Published Thursday, May 1, 2003
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