Soaring across the regions - A view of the impact of the internet on business

The internet offers any business the opportunity to present a commercial image independent of the organisation’s size and location. Small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) across the UK have exploited the internet as it has evolved from an interesting medium for the technology-aware to an essential commercial platform. With this increasing importance, and the internet’s ability to extend the reach of a business, it is valuable to realise precisely what different internet service providers (ISPs) offer before buying. This includes evaluating service level and support capabilities and understanding how these vary throughout the UK. This report looks at the degree to which small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the UK have taken advantage of the internet, and where they are facing challenges. In particular it looks at regional differences within the UK, although it should be noted the sample sizes in certain regions were small and so the conclusions drawn are based on a broad view of the results rather than specific details.