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NEW DRIVE BT has announced an unprecedented package of support to help the 939,000 small businesses. In the launch of BT’s Small Business Support Scheme the company introduces a range of new measures to help small business boost their connectivity, cash flow and confidence – key concerns which have been identified by Small Business Britain’s recent surveys of its membership. BT’s action plan includes a commitment to pay its 4,500 small business suppliers promptly and within 30 days of being invoiced, to helping firms fund the cost of ultrafast business connections, as well as access to free resources such as business mentoring, digital skills, marketing tools and mental health support. BT’s Small Business Support Scheme comprises the following measures: • Funding ultrafast business connections: BT is helping small businesses fund the cost of an ultrafast business connection (known as an Ethernet line), by subsidising the total cost by up to £2,500 per customer. • Launching bursaries for UK tech start-ups: BT is introducing a new bursary scheme to give 1,000 UK tech start-ups and entrepreneurs a financial head start. From October, eligible companies can apply for a bursary to benefit from free fibre broadband and mobile bundles. • Introducing BT Halo for Business: BT has launched the UK’s only converged fibre broadband, mobile and digital phone line bundle for micro-businesses, which represent 91% of all businesses in the UK. By combining three powerful connections in one package. • Helping small businesses to go cashless: BT is preparing to launch a new digital payments solution, to help small businesses move to cashless transactions. • Prompt payment for BT’s small business suppliers: With 58% of small businesses citing cashflow as their number one concern, BT is committing to pay its 4,500 small business suppliers within 30 days of being invoiced. • Financial flexibility for the hardest hit: BT has been assisting small businesses in financial distress during the peak of the pandemic by helping them find a flexible option for paying their bill.
TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES Case study: Technology Consult Ltd Ron Tredget, technical director for Technology Consult Ltd, which is based in East Sussex and provides technology solutions for social care providers and vulnerable people across the South East region, said BT helped the firm stay digitally connected to customers during the Covid-19 crisis. He said: “During the Covid-19 lockdown period we had to partly shut-down and were unable to see
our customers in person. However, thanks to BT’s One Phone service we were able to keep in touch with them remotely via video calls and conferencing. “We are based in a rural location and prior to moving to One Phone we had multiple network providers for our fixed, mobile and cloud services. Since we’ve moved to this combined solution we have cut our costs in half and have much better coverage and resilience.”
Growth in Europe Harlequin Floors, the global leader in advanced technology flooring for dance, performing arts, entertainment and events, has launched its new manufacturing plant and distribution centre in Liège to better fulfil the needs of European clients. In spite of the coronavirus pandemic, the company has also grown the team in the DACH market by appointing Sander Resnik as a new commercial director in Berlin. Established in the UK over 40 years ago, Harlequin’s experience and reputation is founded on the manufacture, supply and installation of a range of high quality portable and permanent sprung and vinyl floors chosen by the world’s leading venues - from the Royal Opera House to the Bolshoi Theatre, the Paris Opera Ballet to Sydney Dance Company. They also work with Global production companies in live events, TV production, fashion and retail.
The new 2,000 sq m plant based in Liège will manufacture the globally renowned Harlequin Liberty sprung floor panels and will ensure an even faster service for European clients, especially those in the events industry where a rapid turnaround on orders is a prerequisite and will be even more important to help rebuild the industry postpandemic. The new site will improve efficiencies in manufacturing and supply and will enable Harlequin Floors to deliver the highest quality products tailored to varying customer needs. Sander Resnik, new commercial director of Harlequin Deutschland, said: “I am glad to be with Harlequin Floors at this time and to be able to support the DACH region with my expertise. Working closely with Mr Rüter and the team in Berlin, I aim to show our German-speaking customers how important it is to train and perform on a real dance floor as opposed to a generic sports floor.”
August/September 2020 | www.southeastbusiness.com
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