IT body joins growth voucher programme

Advice on IT and digital on offer to help small companies expand in government initiative

The UK IT Association (UKITA) has joined the government's £30m growth vouchers programme for businesses.

The initiative, announced in January, runs until March 2015 and aims to advise small and start-up businesses with a view to expansion. A 50 per cent cash-back voucher worth up to £2,000 is on offer to smaller businesses, which can put it towards obtaining guidance in IT and digital, finance, marketing, staffing or leadership.

Helen Brewster, chairwoman of UKITA, said this means that UKITA members are now eligible to advise smaller businesses with growth vouchers on their IT, which can help businesses succeed no matter their size.

"In the past, IT was often seen as an unavoidable overhead for businesses rather than a competitive and strategic tool," Brewster said.

Some 20,000 vouchers are on offer. Independent businesses registered in England that have been operating for at least one year, have fewer than 50 employees, and have not shelled out for any "strategic business advice" in the past three years can apply to receive one of the vouchers.

Suppliers must be paid in full in advance, and then a claim for up to half of the cost can be made, up to a maximum of £2,000.

To apply through Gov.UK, companies need to supply their Companies House registration number or HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), their registered business address, details of company turnover, VAT registration number (if they're registered), PAYE number of available, phone number and email address.

Small businesses that are awarded growth vouchers may use them to receive help to improve their customers' online experience; analyse their use of technology or plan digital projects; automate business processes; or sell online, for example.