SME construction businesses can join a free, CITB-funded training course designed to improve their IT knowledge.
The launch of the course, Solving Tech for Small Builders, follows a successful trial earlier this year with 50 SME builders. The course is run by Maria Coulter, founder of Construction Coach.
“Understanding IT and how it can help your small business can be the difference between success and failure,” said Coulter. “This is about helping builders stand out through professionalism, pricing confidence and better systems.
“The right technology, used in the right way, can save money, free up time and give you the confidence to grow. It is not about pushing one piece of software for everyone. It is about finding what works best for each business.”
The IT programme covers:
- how to find out where your business is losing time, money and reputation;
- advice on choosing the right technology for your business, from AI assistants to project management systems;
- tips for using technology to price your projects, manage your client relationships and your workforce; and
- fortnightly live Zoom sessions and recorded lessons that can be watched on demand.
“Think of it like an IT toolkit. You’d reach for a hammer or screwdriver, so I want small builders to see IT as an extension of those tools,” Coulter said.
Network of like-minded professionals
Another key part of the programme is the community: participants will join a network of other small business owners who are on the same journey, sharing ideas and solutions to help each other succeed.
Of a million small construction companies in Britain – most with fewer than 50 employees – 94% still rely on spreadsheets for tasks such as admin, estimating and planning, Coulter noted. “That needs to change and hopefully this course will be one giant step in the right direction.”
