takeITon.

A major initiative to help boost the productivity of businesses in the region through improved use of IT has been launched today by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

EEDA will be investing £2.8 million in the takeITon programme, which will see a package of practical and financial support measures delivered to businesses in the region over a three year period. The programme is driven by a recognition that a strong IT infrastructure for the region is critical to improving the productivity and efficiency both of individual businesses and the prosperity of the region as a whole.

The takeITon awareness raising campaign running alongside the support programme aims to encourage businesses to think again about the way they use IT and to enable them to become more competitive, visible and profitable as a result.  At the heart of the new investment is the provision of dedicated IT advisers to provide a boost to the support available to businesses in the region through Business link. 

The package of support available includes:

• Investment in five additional dedicated IT advisers to support businesses in the region through Business Link.
• Specialist diagnostic IT healthcheck available to help businesses to identify their IT needs.
• Regular advice clinics and seminars run by Business Link.
• A dedicated takeITon website http://www.takeiton.org.uk/ providing practical advice, hints and tips based on commissioned research.
• An annual takeITon awareness raising week commencing 26th November 2007
• A financial support package to be formally launched in January 2008.

Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA, said: “It is no secret that a strong IT infrastructure has the ability to drive business success, but when we compared this aspect of our performance as a region to others, we realised there was a need to boost the region’s use of IT in business.  If we can encourage businesses across the region to adopt improved IT practices, they will reap the rewards in productivity and efficiency which, in turn, will benefit the economic prosperity of the region as a whole.”