Whether it’s email, the internet, e-commerce or e-business, the impact of the electronic revolution is everywhere. A computer literate, 24-hour society has emerged, and customer expectations are rising fast. Businesses can’t afford to stand still. They need to encompass the electronic revolution and grasp new ways of doing business. Every business can profit from these new opportunities.

What resources are available?

• E-business information and advice.
• Businesslink provides a series of excellent brochures, about the internet, e-commerce and other IT issues specifically designed for business. Also check out HIE's 'get into e-business' dedicated webpages.

What kind of advice?

• I’ve got a computer, linked to the internet... Can my company benefit from using e-mail more effectively? How can the internet provide me with business information and advice? What about using the internet to source suppliers? What can the internet tell me about my competitors?
• I’m thinking about a website for my business... Do I need one? How do I get one? Who can build me my website? How much should it cost? How do I put together a web brief? How do I make sure that people find my website?
• I already have a website... Does it meet its objectives? Is it effective? Where do I go from here?
• I manufacture products that I think I could sell over the internet... Is this the right thing for my business? How do I get an e-commerce website? Who could build me one? What about complying with all the relevant legislation? What about data protection? Does it have to be secure?

ADSL broadband is delivered through your normal analogue telephone line, and is available on all BT telephone exchanges in the Argyll area. If you go to http://www.bt.com/broadband and enter your telephone number you can confirm this.

Some of our smaller telephone exchanges have undergone a small exchange upgrade, and there is a limited service of 512kbps available, and the choice of ISP is limited. Again, if you got to www.bt.com/broadband and enter your telephone number then you will find a listing of the ISPs available.

Satellite broadband

As ADSL broadband is a 'distant dependent' technology, in some cases you may be located too far away from the exchange and unable to get ADSL broadband. If this is the case, and you are a business considering installing a satellite broadband connection, then please let us know as you may be able to get a Satellite broadband grant.