The Need

It is recognised that there are significant blockages preventing the effective and widespread uptake of ICT and e-business amongst small and micro-businesses.

• Hardware and software suppliers are not engaged in delivering working solutions
• Conventional training is not suited to small businesses that need to acquire ‘just in time’ know how as opposed to ‘just in case’ skills
• Standard vocational and vendor training offerings are typically too long and not specific relative to business need
• Short sharp ‘problem’ solving involving product specific ‘know how’ is needed
• Not all businesses and employees are ready to learn in the same mode
• These issues exist worldwide and certainly not exclusive to particular UK regions

The Response

The aim of www.my-IT.info is to help small businesses to do useful things that meet or transform real business requirements ‘on demand’; for example

• Making the most of office software - such as creating a mail shot
• Submitting a statutory return - such as VAT
• Using the internet and broadband for business
• Getting connected - wired or wireless
• Taking care with technology

This ‘know how’ will sometimes link to formal learning opportunities such as:

• General IT understanding – such as IC3
• Product knowledge – such as Microsoft Office Specialist, Sage training
• Content and web skills – such as Macromedia Dreamweaver

The technical level of the material will be very basic, aimed at those with little or no knowledge of ICT or the internet - but with a good knowledge of business practices. To support a range of situations and learning styles, the materials can be delivered through a variety of media, including web access, service centre facilitation and taught delivery.