BT launches new business unit to help micro-businesses unlock potential

BT announced on Monday the launch of its New SoHo (Single/Small office, Home office) unit that will focus on helping the smallest UK firms unlock their potential to help restart the national economy.

“Together with the launch of the UK’s first ‘unbreakable’ Wi-Fi for micro-businesses - which delivers guaranteed coverage across the workplace, full fibre speeds of up to 900Mbps and free tech expert support – the new unit will help the UK’s smallest firms to rebuild and get set for growth”, it said in its press release.

The new unit will sit within BT's Enterprise division and will officially launch on 1 July of this year.

Over 95% (5.7m) of the UK’s private sector companies are micro-businesses with up to 9 employees.

BT believes microbusinesses have a big role to play in powering the post pandemic recovery and will focus on the digital and connectivity needs of these home-based and single site companies.

It will also launch a new suite of services and apps to help the UK’s smallest and fledgling firms grow by building stronger digital foundations. These new services could include stronger cyber security measures, free digital skills training and new digital advertising tools, for example.

Chris Sims, BT’s managing director for its new SoHo unit, said: "By setting up this new unit we're investing in the future of the UK’s smallest firms and start-ups which are the lifeblood of the UK economy.

"Every big business starts small, and we want to help them thrive by delivering flawless connectivity, coverage and customer service - so that their broadband never lets them down. Building on the purpose of our Skills for Tomorrow programme – which has delivered free digital skills training to almost 300,000 small business employees - we’ll also be launching a suite of new services and apps to move the UK’s smallest firms into the digital fast lane."

The telecommunications giant is also planning on helping micro-businesses to take the leap into digital advertising and is trialling new online tools to make it easier for them to run their own digital advertising campaigns.

Despite the majority of small businesses having moved online during the pandemic, lack of experience, time and budget are still holding 2.4m small businesses back from running their own paid digital media campaigns, revealed the press release.

According to BT’s research, while 64% of small businesses think digital marketing is vital to their survival and growth, almost 60% need more support with digital marketing skills.