BT launches networking community for SMEs

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BT today launched a social networking site designed to bring small businesses together to communicate with customers, suppliers and one another.

Dubbed Tradespace, the new offering was unveiled as part of a BT Business Experience event held in London aimed at demonstrating the telco's commitment towards helping the little players compete with the big ones.

SMEs can opt to sign up to one of two packages depending on their needs: Tradespace Basic is a free service that allows unlimited blogging, contact details, two podcasts, five photos and the option of joining one community or Tradespace Contact, which costs £15 per month (ex VAT) and gives SMEs unlimited content and advanced features (including Click-to-Call and SMS capabilities).

A key part of the new hub is the newly-launched BT Business Applications Marketplace, an online supermarket - created in association with Microsoft and a number of other partners - where independent software vendors (ISVs) can showcase and promote their SME-focused creations and businesses can purchase software as a service.

BT's renewed focus on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) is in recognition that they have the same issues as larger companies, but not always the know-how or resources to tackle them, according to Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Business.

"SMEs are critical to the performance of the UK economy and are the primary engine of its growth," he said.

"Ninety nine per cent of businesses in the UK employ less than 50 people. Of course, it's usually the big corporates that get the limelight, but BT Business is championing the cause of smaller businesses and sole traders. We are dedicated to providing them with the support and expertise that allows them to get on with managing their business, while we manage their technology."

Murphy also hinted that Tradespace, which already boasts 2,000 members since its beta launch earlier this year, is merely the beginning of what SMEs can expect in the future.

"This is just a starting point. Once customers join and see the value there are almost limitless tools you can provide them with. We are very optimistic about building on the theme of collaborative tools that allow SMEs to talk more effectively to customers and suppliers. If they put the time in and sign up and create a profile, they won't be disappointed with what comes next."

He added: "People say to me: 'I didn't know you did that' or 'Why are you doing that?' but God willing they will start seeing a BT they don't recognise. The world is changing."

To highlight BT Business' efforts in this area, the company has also launched a competition to honour entrepreneurial achievements and plans to support its activities with a high-profile advertising campaign with chef Gordon Ramsay as its poster child.

A commercial, featuring Ramsay heading for chaos as he takes his eyes off the business to try and deal with IT problems, will air from May 1.

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