Are you missing out on the digital boom?

Almost half of Britain's businesses are failing to make the most of the digital economy, according to new research.

A joint report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and British tech giant IBM, revealed that while 55% of UK firms are motoring ahead, 45% are markedly lagging behind.

This is not the only report that points to this problematic trend. According to research by Oxford Economics and Virgin Media Business, a staggering £92bn, and a million new jobs, could be added to the British economy if smaller firms were to fully develop their digital potential. At the moment 4% still don't even have a website.

Some 42 per cent said a lack of knowledge within the company was to blame, while a third said they didn't understand whether they would get a return on investment.

Tech is not just for the geeks and having a website is now not only existential, it's an important marketing and e-commerce tool, and part and parcel of building a brand.

Take butcher Charlotte Harbottle for example. She runs Charlotte's Butchery in the Gosforth and finds 40% of her sales come in through her very simple, free, blog.

So how can you build an affordable online presence, understand more about how to save time (and therefore money) through using accounting software, plug in online payments or just find out more about social media?

Well, by getting involved in business.connected – a new programme we're running in partnership with Vodafone to equip small firms with the skills they need to take their digital operations to the next level. Find out more.