Help to Grow: Digital – advice pilot (closed)
How to take part in the Help to Grow: Digital scheme one-to-one advice pilot if you provide a platform for one-to-one digital technology adoption advice.
Update: 15 December 2022
The Help to Grow: Digital programme will close to new business applications for discounts on 2 February 2023. See today’s announcement: Final opportunity for businesses to access Help to Grow: Digital scheme.
This pilot is now closed.
Overview
Help to Grow: Digital is a UK-wide scheme to help small and medium size businesses (SMEs) adopt digital technologies that are proven to increase their productivity.
The scheme offers SMEs free and impartial advice on how technology can help their business. An online platform helps them to:
- identify their digital technology needs
- assess technology purchasing options
- implement new technologies in their operations
The scheme also offers eligible SMEs (with between 1 and 249 employees) a grant token worth up to £5,000. This will cover up to half of the costs of pre-approved, digital technology solutions.
The Help to Grow: Digital scheme launched in January 2022. It will run for 3 years, taking a phased approach over a number of waves. Each wave will provide the opportunity to roll out new technologies and functionalities for SMEs and vendors.
One-to-one digital technology adoption advice
We’re exploring how one-to-one advice can help SMEs to successfully adopt digital technology.
We intend to work with organisations that already operate in the one-to-one technology adoption advice market to pilot this.
For some paid advice services we would like to pilot launching a voucher for eligible SMEs to access a 50% discount of up to £5,000 on technology adoption advice. Exact details on the design of the voucher are still in development, but we intend that advisors will be required to provide an upfront discount to SMEs and then claim reimbursement directly from BEIS.
No funding will be provided by BEIS to any partner platform organisation appointed as a result of this pilot to help SMEs connect with advisors.
We will build evidence on ‘what works, and why’ across a range of SME sizes and industries.
The pilot will run for 1 year, with review points at 6 and 9 months. We will carry out monitoring and evaluation throughout the pilot and assess its effectiveness before determining the future scheme design.
Eligibility
Eligible organisations must be one of the following:
- a company registered with Companies House or the FCA Public Mutuals Register
- a charity registered with the Charity Commission, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or the Scottish Charity Regulator
- a UK public body
You will also need to:
- have been actively operating for at least 1 year
- have a minimum of 10 advisors that offer advice on all stages of digital technology adoption (pre- and post-implementation)
- demonstrate cyber security measures are in place (if online)
- be GDPR compliant
Platforms may be online or offline. You will need to undergo fraud and eligibility checks in line with the heads of terms of the scheme. This will include credit checks to ensure financial viability and sanctions screening. Successful organisations will be subject to regular fraud and eligibility checks, at least every 12 months.
We reserve the right to limit the number of partners we select to meet the aims of the pilot.
Find out more about eligibility and how organisations are assessed.
How to apply
This pilot is now closed.
Help and guidance
If you have any questions, contact the Help to Grow: Digital team:
Help to Grow: Digital scheme enquiries
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
United Kingdom
Email: advisors.helptogrow@beis.gov.uk
We are unable to respond promptly to letters sent in the post at the moment. Please email to ensure we can respond to your enquiry as quickly as possible.
Last updated 15 December 2022 + show all updates
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This pilot is now closed. The Help to Grow: Digital programme will close to new business applications for discounts on 2 February 2023.
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First published.