Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she made an assessment of alternatives to the Help to Grow: Digital Scheme before announcing the closure of that scheme on 15 December 2022.

The Department considered alternative options to deliver the Help to Grow: Digital scheme before announcing its closure however we could not justify its continued cost to the taxpayer due to the lower than expected take up. The decision to close the scheme enabled the Government to refocus efforts towards other support mechanisms for small businesses, ensuring businesses get the backing they need in the most efficient and productive way possible. The Help to Grow: Management scheme remains in place and includes a module to assist in understanding digital adoption.