BUSINESSES in the North-East are proving critics wrong when it comes to using computers and the Internet.
New research carried out by the Federation of Small Business (FSB) contradicts earlier surveys conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry, which showed the region had the third lowest use of the Internet among 12 UK regions.
The recent findings show that 87 per cent of small business owners either possess, or have access to, a computer.
Eighty four per cent of these are already online and 60 per cent have web pages.
FSB's national IT committee chairman, Pete Scargill, said: "These findings are great news.
"Any accusation that the North-East is illiterate in ICT terms appears to be groundless. However, there is still progress to be made."
The FSB hopes that the findings will improve the use of computers and the Internet in small businesses throughout the region.
They have recommended customer-driven, more accessible and better-promoted training of small business owners.
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