ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the issues of how SMEs use IT, and how the support available to them as they seek to develop and grow their businesses has been progressively reduced. It draws upon the findings of a continuing research project which examines how small firms in the UK use IT and seeks to make some policy recommendations for addressing this problem. Specifically, the chapter falls into three separate sections:
A review of the rise and fall of government funded ICT support over the last 10 years.
An account of what these issues look like to some representative SMEs that we interviewed.
Some thoughts from the analysis of these interviews as to what progress could be made if a more pragmatic approach were to be taken by government towards small business support.
