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This was also released today but......
Mon, 7th Jun 2021 10:41
BT announced on Monday the launch of its New SoHo (Single/Small office, Home office) unit that will focus on helping the smallest UK firms unlock their potential to help restart the national economy.
"Together with the launch of the UK's first 'unbreakable' Wi-Fi for micro-businesses - which delivers guaranteed coverage across the workplace, full fibre speeds of up to 900Mbps and free tech expert support - the new unit will help the UK's smallest firms to rebuild and get set for growth", it said in its press release.
The new unit will sit within BT's Enterprise division and will officially launch on 1 July of this year.
Over 95% (5.7m) of the UK's private sector companies are micro-businesses with up to 9 employees.
BT believes microbusinesses have a big role to play in powering the post pandemic recovery and will focus on the digital and connectivity needs of these home-based and single site companies.
It will also launch a new suite of services and apps to help the UK's smallest and fledgling firms grow by building stronger digital foundations. These new services could include stronger cyber security measures, free digital skills training and new digital advertising tools, for example.
Chris Sims, BT's managing director for its new SoHo unit, said: "By setting up this new unit we're investing in the future of the UK's smallest firms and start-ups which are the lifeblood of the UK economy.
"Every big business starts small, and we want to help them thrive by delivering flawless connectivity, coverage and customer service - so that their broadband never lets them down. Building on the purpose of our Skills for Tomorrow programme - which has delivered free digital skills training to almost 300,000 small business employees - we'll also be launching a suite of new services and apps to move the UK's smallest firms into the digital fast lane."
The telecommunications giant is also planning on helping micro-businesses to take the leap into digital advertising and is trialling new online tools to make it easier for them to run their own digital advertising campaigns.
Despite the majority of small businesses having moved online during the pandemic, lack of experience, time and budget are still holding 2.4m small businesses back from running their own paid digital media campaigns, revealed the press release.
According to BT's research, while 64% of small businesses think digital marketing is vital to their survival and growth, almost 60% need more support with digital marketing skills.
News from late Friday
BT set to reacquire 30% stake in SA subsidiary from African Equity
Fri, 4th Jun 2021 17:16
(Alliance News) - African Equity Empowerment Investments Ltd on Friday noted that UK telecommunications firm BT Group PLC has sent a letter indicating that it will exercise a call option to repurchase a 30% stake in BT Communications Services South Africa Pty Ltd.
In 2008, the Cape Town-based private equity firm acquired a 30% interest in BT Communication Services South Africa for an undisclosed sum.
As part of the shareholder agreement signed in 2008, BT was given a call option allowing the group to repurchase African Equity's interest in BT Communications Services South Africa, in the event of an act which is not remedied within 60 days.
On Wednesday, BT announced that it would end its relationship with Iqbal Surve's Sekunjalo Group.
A BT spokesperson said: "We have initiated the termination process with the Sekunjalo Group in line with the shareholder agreement in place. We can confirm the 30% stake in BT South Africa was held by AEEI holding company through its subsidiary, KiloMIX Investments, and the transfer of BT shares to AYO Technology Solutions never took place.
"BT has made a decision to terminate its relationship with the Sekunjalo Group in South Africa. Further, BT has also corrected the misrepresentation of facts to the Standing Committee on Finance made by representatives of the Sekunjalo Group and initiated the process of terminating its relationship with the Sekunjalo Group," the spokesperson added.