SME Technology Adoption Accelerator

Basic digital technology is a proven driver of firm-level productivity, yet UK adoption lags international competitors, particularly among SMEs. SMEs face three barriers: limited awareness and information, resources and skills. A fragmented support landscape fails to address them. The industry-led SME Digital Adoption Taskforce recommends a new public-private initiative with large businesses and No.10 to boost SME digital and AI adoption. The Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade (BIST) will fund one delivery partner (or one consortium with a single accountable lead) for a one-year pilot to create a coherent support offer, initially for UK SMEs with 50 or fewer employees in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure, with scope to expand following evaluation. The pilot will provide online support, including curated guidance, sector guides, case studies, webinars, e-learning and content for AI-powered tools, alongside local, in-person support, including events, peer networks and mentoring. It will combine industry and government contributions and use existing brands, networks and platforms, including ‘Backing Your Business’, the Business Growth Service, the Business Academy and Growth Hubs. BIST will test whether a coordinated public-private offer can overcome barriers to SME digital adoption and generate evidence for any future national programme. Benefits For the delivery partner A visible partnership with government on a high‑priority policy area Access to a convened group of major industry partners Enhanced reputation in delivering government‑funded support programmes Expanded reach and relationships across the UK SME base For participating SMEs A clear, supported pathway to adopting digital technology, with both online and in‑person elements Impartial, vendor‑neutral guidance on selecting and implementing technology Access to industry‑provided help with cost barriers More efficient core business processes, freeing up time and resource Peer networks and relationships that can continue beyond the pilot For industry partners An opportunity to partner with government and deliver against corporate social responsibility objectives Brand reputation benefits from contributing to a trusted, impartial offer Indirect long‑term benefit from a more digitally capable SME customer base For the UK economy Stronger firm‑level productivity through wider adoption of productivity‑enhancing technology Contribution to the Government’s Growth Mission Progress towards the ambition for UK SMEs to be among the most digitally capable and AI confident in the G7 by 2035 For BIST and government Improved collaboration with industry, drawing in skills and resources not available in government Better value for money by building on existing activities, expertise and infrastructure Better evidence on what works in SME digital adoption support, addressing a known gap Greater impact from a more joined‑up support landscape Reputational benefit from delivering on a challenging, high‑priority area, having learned from previous initiatives Contains public sector information from Find a grant, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

We welcome applications from organisations that already operate in the SME digital adoption or SME business support space, with an existing record of support activity, expertise and delivery infrastructure. This includes not‑for‑profit, public and private sector organisations, and consortia. If applying as a consortium, you must identify a lead organisation that must complete the application, and will be accountable to BIST for overall delivery, reporting and financial management. We are looking for: Existing delivery infrastructure: the ability to launch and deliver at pace, building on existing capabilities rather than building from scratch. Convening credibility: the standing to coordinate contributions from multiple large businesses and government departments into a coherent offer. Reach into the target group: demonstrable routes to smaller SMEs in Retail, Hospitality and Leisure, nationally and locally. Delivery capacity and governance: clear governance structure, named leads, and...