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DEADLINE 25 MAY - DO NOT BE LATE!!!

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this is about a scheme/grant available to improve your broadband

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Businesses in 22 cities around the UK have until March 2015 to apply for a Government grant worth up to £3000 to start reaping the business benefits of faster broadband speeds and better connectivity.

The scheme allows businesses to apply for grants of up to £3,000 each to cover the costs of installing faster and better broadband. So far, almost 3,000 businesses in the UK's "Superconnected cities" have received grants, with hundreds more currently going through the application process.

The grant, in the form of a voucher, is part of the government's broadband transformation across the country, helping cities to create and attract new jobs and investment and make the UK the best place in the world to do business.

Benefits to businesses as a result of faster, better broadband include:

Growing and accessing new markets through better communication with customers and suppliers

Increasing security through fast secure back-up of data

Increasing productivity and improving customer service through faster upload and download speeds

Reduce the costs of software and hardware by benefiting from the option of online applications and data storage

Enhance the way you communicate and collaborate by accommodating colleagues, clients and partners on real-time video calls, and by sharing information on cloud-based software

Businesses can find out more about this offer and apply through the broadband connection vouchers website
Watch interviews with companies already benefiting from broadband vouchers
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Sajid Javid said:

We want to make sure that small businesses have the help and support they need to grow and prosper in our digital age. That is why we are providing these grants to help small businesses meet their challenges.

I urge all eligible small businesses to apply straight away and help boost their businesses with faster broadband.

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said:

In today's economy, not being online is simply not an option and nearly every small firm I meet says that a fast, reliable broadband connection is vital for growth. So I urge our small businesses to make the most of this opportunity and apply for broadband vouchers.

Making sure that all our businesses can access the resources they need to grow is grow is an important part of our long-term economic plan, and we are determined to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business.

The Superconnected cities programme is running alongside the UK government's rollout of superfast broadband to rural areas which has already brought superfast access to more than 1 million homes and businesses. By 2017, 95% of the UK will be able to access superfast speeds.

Further information

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Businesses encouraged to claim £3000 grants for better broadband

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Businesses in 22 cities around the UK have until March 2015 to apply for a Government grant worth up to £3000 to start reaping the business benefits of faster broadband speeds and better connectivity. The scheme allows businesses to apply for grants of up to £3,000 each to cover the costs of installing faster and better broadband.

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Support for your business to do e-business

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Find government-backed support and finance for business

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How to do a SWOT analysis

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How to Do a SWOT Analysis

Avoid relying on your own, partial understanding of your organization. Your assumptions could be wrong. Instead, gather a team of people from a range of functions and levels to build a broad and insightful list of observations.

Then, every time you identify a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, or Threat, write it down in the relevant part of the SWOT analysis grid for all to see.

Let's look at each area in more detail and consider what fits where, and what questions you could ask as part of your data gathering.

Strengths

Strengths are things that your organization does particularly well, or in a way that distinguishes you from your competitors. Think about the advantages your organization has over other organizations. These might be the motivation of your staff, access to certain materials, or a strong set of manufacturing processes.

Then turn your perspective around and ask yourself what your competitors might see as your strengths. What factors mean that you get the sale ahead of them?

Remember, any aspect of your organization is only a strength if it brings you a clear advantage. For example, if all of your competitors provide high-quality products, then a high-quality production process is not a strength in your market: it's a necessity.

Weaknesses

Weaknesses, like strengths, are inherent features of your organization, so focus on your people, resources, systems, and procedures. Think about what you could improve, and the sorts of practices you should avoid.

Once again, imagine (or find out) how other people in your market see you. Do they notice weaknesses that you tend to be blind to? Take time to examine how and why your competitors are doing better than you. What are you lacking?

Be honest! A SWOT analysis will only be valuable if you gather all the information you need. So, it's best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.

Opportunities

Opportunities are openings or chances for something positive to happen, but you'll need to claim them for yourself!

They usually arise from situations outside your organization, and require an eye to what might happen in the future. They might arise as developments in the market you serve, or in the technology you use. Being able to spot and exploit opportunities can make a huge difference to your organization's ability to compete and take the lead in your market.

Think about good opportunities that you can exploit immediately. These don't need to be game-changers: even small advantages can increase your organization's competitiveness. What interesting market trends are you aware of, large or small, which could have an impact?

You should also watch out for changes in government policy related to your field. And changes in social patterns, population profiles, and lifestyles can all throw up interesting opportunities.

Threats

Threats include anything that can negatively affect your business from the outside, such as supply-chain problems, shifts in market requirements, or a shortage of recruits. It's vital to anticipate threats and to take action against them before you become a victim of them and your growth stalls.

Think about the obstacles you face in getting your product to market and selling. You may notice that quality standards or specifications for your products are changing, and that you'll need to change those products if you're to stay in the lead. Evolving technology is an ever-present threat, as well as an opportunity!

Always consider what your competitors are doing, and whether you should be changing your organization's emphasis to meet the challenge. But remember that what they're doing might not be the right thing for you to do. So, avoid copying them without knowing how it will improve your position.

Be sure to explore whether your organization is especially exposed to external challenges. Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems, for example, that could make you vulnerable to even small changes in your market? This is the kind of threat that can seriously damage your business, so be alert.

A SWOT Analysis Example

Imagine this scenario: a small start-up consultancy wants a clear picture of its current situation, to decide on a future strategy for growth. The team gathers, and draws up the SWOT Analysis shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. A Completed SWOT Analysis.

Strengths What do you do well? What unique resources can you draw on? What do others see as your strengths?

Weaknesses What could you improve? Where do you have fewer resources than others? What are others likely to see as weaknesses?

We are able to respond very quickly as we have no red tape, and no need for higher management approval.

We are able to give really good customer care, as the current small amount of work means we have plenty of time to devote to customers.

Our lead consultant has a strong reputation in the market.

We can change direction quickly if we find that our marketing is not working.

We have low overheads, so we can offer good value to customers.

Our company has little market presence or reputation.

We have a small staff, with a shallow skills base in many areas.

We are vulnerable to vital staff being sick or leaving.

Our cash flow will be unreliable in the early stages.

Opportunities What opportunities are open to you? What trends could you take advantage of? How can you turn your strengths into opportunities?

Threats What threats could harm you? What is your competition doing? What threats do your weaknesses expose to you?

Our business sector is expanding, with many future opportunities for success.

Local government wants to encourage local businesses.

Our competitors may be slow to adopt new technologies.

Developments in technology may change this market beyond our ability to adapt.

A small change in the focus of a large competitor might wipe out any market position we achieve.

As a result of the team's analysis, it's clear that the consultancy's main strengths lie in its agility, technical expertise, and low overheads. These allow it to offer excellent customer service to a relatively small client base.

The company's weaknesses are also to do with its size. It will need to invest in training, to improve the skills base of the small staff. It'll also need to focus on retention, so it doesn't lose key team members.

There are opportunities in offering rapid-response, good-value services to local businesses and to local government organizations. The company can likely be first to market with new products and services, given that its competitors are slow adopters.

The threats require the consultancy to keep up-to-date with changes in technology. It also needs to keep a close eye on its largest competitors, given its vulnerability to large-scale changes in its market. To counteract this, the business needs to focus its marketing on selected industry websites, to get the greatest possible market presence on a small advertising budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About SWOT Analysis

1. Who Invented SWOT Analysis?

2. What Does SWOT Analysis Stand For?

SWOT Analysis stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

3. What Can a SWOT Analysis Be Used For?

SWOT analysis is a useful tool to help you determine your organization's position in the market. You can then use this information to create an informed strategy suited to your needs and capabilities.

4. How Do I Write a SWOT Analysis?

5. How Do SWOT Analysis and the TOWS Matrix compare?

6. What Are the Biggest SWOT Analysis Mistakes?

Making your lists too long. Ask yourself if your ideas are feasible as you go along.

Being vague. Be specific to provide more focus for later discussions.

Not seeing weaknesses. Be sure to ask customers and colleagues what they experience in real life.

Not thinking ahead. It's easy to come up with nice ideas without taking them through to their logical conclusion. Always consider their practical impact.

Being unrealistic. Don't plan in detail for opportunities that don't exist yet. For example, that export market you've been eyeing may be available at some point, but the trade negotiations to open it up could take years.

Relying on SWOT Analysis alone. SWOT Analysis is valuable. But when you use it alongside other planning tools (SOAR, TOWS or PEST), the results will be more vigorous.

How to Use a SWOT Analysis

Use a SWOT Analysis to assess your organization's current position before you decide on any new strategy. Find out what's working well, and what's not so good. Ask yourself where you want to go, how you might get there - and what might get in your way.

Once you've examined all four aspects of SWOT, you'll want to build on your strengths, boost your weaker areas, head off any threats, and exploit every opportunity. In fact, you'll likely be faced with a long list of potential actions.

But before you go ahead, be sure to develop your ideas further. Look for potential connections between the quadrants of your matrix. For example, could you use some of your strengths to open up further opportunities? And, would even more opportunities become available by eliminating some of your weaknesses?

Finally, it's time to ruthlessly prune and prioritize your ideas, so that you can focus time and money on the most significant and impactful ones. Refine each point to make your comparisons clearer. For example, only accept precise, verifiable statements such as, "Cost advantage of $30/ton in sourcing raw material x," rather than, "Better value for money."

SWOT Analysis Tips

Here are four tips for getting more out of a SWOT analysis:

1. Be specific. The more focused and accurate you are about the points you write down, the more useful your SWOT analysis will be.

2. Work backwards. Experiment with filling in the four sections of your SWOT analysis in a different order, to stimulate new ways of thinking. Working backwards, in particular, from threats to strengths, may cast new light on the situation.

3. Get together. Highlight the most useful people to contribute to your SWOT analysis, then gather information and ideas from them all.

4. SWOT your competition! To stay ahead of your competitors, carry out a regular SWOT analysis on them. Use everything you know about them to evaluate their situation, and use SWOT analysis to plan your competitive strategies accordingly.

SWOT Analysis Infographic

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SWOT Analysis With SWOT Templates and Examples !

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SWOT Analysis is a simple but powerful framework for analyzing your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Includes template. Access on-demand resources, expert videos by becoming a Mind Tools member now!!

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this is another link for DATA protection

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The effect of the Data Protection Act on e-marketing

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this is actually a good link to look at

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Startups.co.uk: Starting a business advice and business ideas

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The web can be a wild place to trade in, and a number of businesses have found to their cost that simple mistakes can escalate into significant business threats in a short period of time.

It is vital that small businesses are aware of their legal obligations and adhere to respective laws. This guide should help you avoid problems and costly mistakes by explaining the legal obligations you have in your business.

Please note that this guide is focused on small business IT. It is strongly recommended that you take formal legal advice if you are undertaking commercial activities on the web. This guide does not constitute legal advice.
Consumer protection laws
These apply to all commercial sales whether they occur over the internet or over the counter in a shop. The Sale of Goods Act, which is probably the best known of these, is designed to ensure that a purchaser receives a certain quality of product and sets out their rights if the product is believed to be sub-standard. If you are offering loans or credit facilities from your web site then you will be subject to the Consumer Credit Act which controls the type of agreement consumers can enter into. It also offers protection to customers buying goods with credit cards.

There are many other pieces of legislation that concern the selling of goods and services. Some of this may be particular to your trade or business area, so always take advice from a legal practitioner if you are in any doubt.
eBusiness specific laws
In support of the standard consumer protection laws a raft of legislation has been enacted to protect consumers or buyers making purchases across the internet from web sites. It was important that specific legislation was created as many vendors saw the internet as a way of avoiding day to day regulations and laws. It is to the benefit of all small businesses that we have this protection as consumer confidence has increased, which is reflected in the amount of business now being transacted across the web. The EU has been the main force behind these new laws which regulate the on-line selling process. Key to these laws is the fact that a company should not hide behind a website in an attempt to evade their responsibilities.

The E-Commerce Regulations demand that all commercial websites contain the following pieces of information, even if you do not sell services or products from the site:

The name, registered address, postal address and email address of the company selling the goods or services. Note that PO BOX numbers are not deemed suitable as an address.

The limited company registration and VAT numbers (where applicable)

Details of trade or professional association memberships

All pricing information needs to be clear and obvious and it should be clearly stated if the prices are inclusive or exclusive of VAT and any delivery costs.

The Distance Selling Regulations state that the following need to be displayed clearly on a web site prior to a user placing an order:

Who you are (i.e. who is the supplier?)

Price of your goods or services

Description of the goods and services

Payment and delivery terms

The fact that a purchaser can cancel the order as it has been created under the Distance Selling Regulations

Most sites will wrap this information into their terms and conditions which purchasers need to read before placing an order. Most sites have a tick box that says something like "I have read and agree with the terms and conditions". Only after ticking the box can an order proceed.

In reality few consumers bother to read these terms which is a shame as they are there to protect the consumer from fraud or illegal activities. These terms and conditions will vary from site to site but it is important that they are accurate as they form your legal "crown jewels".
Other laws that may affect your site include:

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995. This act is designed to ensure that websites are accessible to users with disabilities. The type of disability that may be relevant includes impaired vision and dyslexia

The Data Protection Act. This act determines how you can store personal data on your computers.

The Business IT Guide enables businesses to make the right IT decisions

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eBusiness and the law: What's required to run an e-commerce business? | Startups.co.uk

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The web can be a wild place to trade in, and a number of businesses have found to their cost that simple mistakes can escalate into significant business threats in a short period of time. It is vital that small businesses are aware of their legal obligations and adhere to respective laws.

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Site about consumer rights

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Consumer rights and issues - Policy areas - GOV.UK

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The government is working to make sure that people have the information and protection they need when they buy goods and services.

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Useful site about 'Digital Britain'

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If you have any questions, please  ask me in person or email me at copelanda@ceredigion.ac.uk

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P6 Explain how the government  supports the development of  e-business

P7 Produce a personal  development plan to help an  individual prepare for increased  use of e-business