Website Design, Wakefield

For advice on setting up a website, or making an existing website more effective, call Meadow Croft Consultants on 01924 888180

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Is a website necessary?

The following is extracted from the Government's website - you make up your own mind as to whether or not a website is necessary: -

"Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-commerce activity by UK businesses.

E-commerce is having a huge impact on the way we do business. It can lead to dramatic growth in trade, increase markets, improve efficiency and effectiveness and can transform business processes.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) developed the e-commerce survey to help measure the UK's progress in the use of ICTs and the growth of e-commerce. The survey is now conducted as part of a Eurostat initiative to measure the impact of ICT and e-commerce activity across EU member states and the UK has been heavily involved in the development of the survey at an international level."

Another section of the Government's website states: -

"• Internet sales accounted for 39.3 per cent of the value of sales over all ICTs in 2007, up from 35.7 per cent in 2006.

• 30.4 per cent of the value of all purchases made by non-financial sector businesses were made over the Internet or other ICTs in 2007.

• 60.8 per cent of businesses used the Internet to interact with public authorities, such as government departments and local and regional authorities in 2007, an increase of nearly 18 per cent since 2006.

• 70.3 per cent of businesses had a website

There are significant differences in the rate of adoption of newer ICTs between the largest and smallest businesses. Supply chain management systems were used by 33.4 per cent of businesses with 1000 or more employees in 2007, compared with only 4.2 per cent of businesses with 10 to 49 employees.
While the largest businesses have led the way with the adoption of ICTs, the smallest businesses have closed the gap with the use of more established ICTs such as Internet access and websites. News release: Internet sales rose by 30 per cent in 2007 Page 2
The Office for National Statistics also published Internet Connectivity September 2008 today. Data showed that broadband connections reached 94.1 per cent of all connections (residential and business) up from 92.8 per cent in June 2008
The Impact of ICTs – International Study
ONS has led a group of 13 EU statistical offices in a programme to investigate the impact of how businesses use ICTs.
The results show that:
• High speed Internet access for workers is an important link to higher productivity
• Productivity effects vary by business type, especially in the service industries
• ICT use improves productivity by enabling the adoption of innovative ideas by firms, and speeding up the spread of new products and services from successful businesses
• Increased use of e-commerce (e-buying and e-selling) is a key element in improved productivity
• The UK is among those countries where ICT use is most strongly associated with higher productivity
The full report and further information can be found under 'methodology' at http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ict
BACKGROUND NOTES

1. Businesses with employment of less than 10 were not included in the 2007 survey. These businesses were covered until the 2004 survey, which means that some headline results of the 2005, 2006 and 2007 surveys are not directly comparable with earlier years.

2. Banking and Financial businesses are excluded from estimates relating to the proportions of businesses buying and selling over ICTs, and the values of their sales and purchases.

3. The 2005 and 2006 estimates of ICT usage and electronic trading have been revised as a result of updated estimates provided by businesses. 2002, 2003 and 2004 estimates have not been revised.

4. For further information on the 2007 e-commerce and ICT activity First Release, please go to http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=6645

5. Details of the policy governing the release of new data are available from the ONS press office.

6. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference. © Crown copyright 2008"