Potential work opportunity from Patricia Hewitt
Recently e-commerce minister Patricia Hewitt announced the £5.5m Internet Mentoring Initiative to help internet start-ups and established SMEs make "the internet the centre of their business". The scheme is a private-public sector initiative run by the SBS (Small Business Service) as part of UK Online for Business, formerly the DTI sponsored Information Society Initiative (ISI).
According to a recent government report 81% of UK business is now on-line, but only 27% are actually trading on-line. This gap is an opportunity for IT contractors to use their skills on a consultancy basis.
Although most SMEs need high quality IT advice at a competitive rate, the difficulty for many independent contractors is finding those who are actively seeking support. Ironically a government scheme may now offer independent contractors the opportunity to prove they are genuine businesses. According to the UK Online for Business website:
"Under the Internet Mentoring Initiative, companies will be able to access tailored business advice via an interactive web portal.
Unfortunately the portal does not seem to be up and running. However it is possible for independent contractors to register as advisors:
"UK online for business is a private-public sector initiative, and as such many private sector and non-profit firms work closely with the UK online for business in promoting the e-commerce message to small firms.
This works at different levels. Large firms, for example, Intel and BT, fund particular UK online for business programmes, such as the ICT - Technology Means Business and the E-Commerce Awards.
Smaller firms can also be partners in the UK online for business. This type of partnership is at a local level. The UK online for business Advisers, based on Business Links in England and their equivalents in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, provide individually tailored ICT advice for small businesses. Business partners work with UK online for business Advisers at a number of different levels. Some support the UK online for business Advisers through directly providing their products and services. Others get involved by speaking or participating in other ways at events or workshops organised by the UK online for business Advisers. Most find it a mutually rewarding and beneficial relationship.
This is a new scheme and at the moment seems to have more publicity than substance, but it looks as if it may offer opportunities for those looking for local consultancy work. You can learn more about the scheme and a bit more about being a local advisor here
UKTECH has requested further information and will pass on the details as soon as they become available.
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Mark Roderick