Dragons’ Den presenter and businessman Steven Bartlett is teaming up with Vodafone to launch an initiative aimed at improving the digital skills of small firms throughout the country.

It will be an expansion of the business.connected training scheme set up by Vodafone, which has already helped 46,000 small companies better their digital know-how for free. The company has set the target of getting this scheme out to 150,000 UK small firms by the summer of next year, and it has recruited both Bartlett and the tech firm Cisco to help with that.

Bartlett started up his company aged just 22 and, seven years later, he is among the most successful entrepreneurs in the country. He will be offering free advice on how to manage a digital business, as well as how improved computer skills can enable these firms to maximise opportunities. Speaking to City AM, he stated that:

“The business world, especially now, is moving quickly and this isn’t going to stop anytime soon – it’s important that businesses adopt a ‘designed for change’ ethic and keep up with emerging trends.”

For that reason, some firms are now using digital accountancy software, but outsourcing to accountants in Goole or any other part of the country is also an effective financial management option.

Vodafone UK Head of Small Business, Andrew Stevens, backed up the point made by Bartlett. He also pointed out that up-to-date digital skills were going to be essential to smaller firms as they try to remain competitive and thrive in the post-Covid-19 world.