Responding to news that the Help to Grow Digital scheme, which was launched in January, is to be scrapped, FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said:
“The Help to Grow scheme is the Government’s flagship small business productivity policy. It has barely been around for a year and although uptake is low, firms should be given the time to reap the benefits instead of having it snatched away during a time of economic crisis.
“This decision creates a vacuum in public policy tech adoption. If this is cancelled, what is the Government’s plan to boost digital productivity?
“Turning Help to Grow into Help to Slow – at Christmastime no less - is a Scrooge move. We would urge small businesses to consider if they can use the scheme before applications close on 2 February.
“The Government is already proposing downgrading the high take-up R&D tax credits which have been a lifeline to so many small firms, rolling back on its own policy successes.
“Removing the Help to Grow Digital scheme on top of that smacks of a government that is doing nothing more than carving an anti-growth legacy for itself.”
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As the UK’s largest business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed.
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