BT today announced Barclaycard Payments as the latest business to join its new partnership network, aimed at helping the UK’s smallest firms to grow.

Barclaycard has signed up to BT’s partnership network, following The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), with the aim of delivering a host of benefits for small firms over the next year. While the offers will change regularly, benefits include:

• Barclaycard business customers to benefit from up to £100 off the upfront cost of their EE business handset
• 2% Cashback for BT business customers who use their Barclaycard business card to pay for any BT or EE Services. That’s on top of any existing Barclaycard cashback rewards, such as 1% cashback on all business spend with the Barclaycard Select Cashback credit card* (Terms and conditions apply)

The new partnership network – specifically designed for micro-businesses with 0-5 employees – aims to deliver a host of extra perks to customers across broadband, mobile, connected devices, and digital marketing, plus other forms of support aimed at helping businesses grow. In addition to the new Barclaycard offers, FSB members can now claim up to £250 towards running their own social media and digital advertising campaigns through BT’s Digital Marketing Hub, This new digital platform allows businesses to quickly create, send and measure digital marketing campaigns across social media platforms, using built in AI tech to drive the best results for their business.

To help its customers create new opportunities and make the running of their business easier, BT is also offering its smallest business customers a 15 per cent discount on FSB membership for 12 months when they join before 30 September.  This will give them access to a wide range of vital support services, including legal and HR advice, financial products and health and wellbeing support.

Chris Sims, BT’s MD for SoHo (Small Office/Home Office unit) said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Barclaycard as the latest partner to our partnership network, as they support us on our mission to give the UK’s smallest firms the benefits and boosts they need to grow. We want technology, skills and expertise to be as accessible as possible for small businesses, and our partnerships with Barclaycard and FSB will provide our customers with exclusive offers and benefits across broadband, mobile, digital marketing and connected devices over the coming year. We look forward to adding more partners to our partnership network over the coming weeks to offer an even broader range of benefits to our customers.”

Colin O’Flaherty, Head of SME at Barclaycard Payments, said: “As they continue to brace themselves for what is an increasingly difficult trading environment, we want to give the nation’s smallest businesses the boost they may need to help them grow. This is why we’re excited to be partnering with BT, who share in our common mission to support the UK’s small business community, the driving force of our economy.

BT’s partnership network for the UK’s smallest firms will expand over the coming weeks and months. The scheme will see BT forging mutually beneficial partnerships with a number of like-minded organisations across a range of sectors, including retail, hospitality, banking, finance and membership bodies, to bring value-added benefits to its smallest customers.

The launch of the new partnership network forms part of BT’s recently announced Enterprise Customer Charter. The new Charter is made up of a range of new initiatives from BT aimed at boosting the growth of UK businesses and the public sector and includes a pledge around delivering standout customer experiences.

To find out more about how BT is driving and supporting UK business growth through partnerships visit here or call 0800 012 1245.

To benefit from the 15% discount on FSB membership please  use code BT15

BT today announced a new partnership network for the UK’s smallest firms, with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) the first to sign up as launch partner. The new partnership network – specifically designed for micro-businesses with 0-5 employees – will deliver a host of extra benefits to customers across broadband, mobile, connected devices, and digital marketing, plus other forms of support aimed at helping businesses grow.

BT has partnered with FSB - the UK’s largest organisation dedicated to championing the needs of small firms - to give its members access to an extended promotional offer around its Digital Marketing Hub. From today, FSB members can claim up to £250 towards running their own social media and digital advertising campaigns through BT’s Digital Marketing Hub, an easy-to-use tool which enables small firms to advertise their products and services online.[1]

This new digital platform allows businesses to quickly create, send and measure digital marketing campaigns across social media platforms, using built in AI tech to drive the best results for their business.

To help its customers create new opportunities and make the running of their business easier, BT is also offering its smallest business customers a 15 per cent discount on FSB membership for 12 months when they join before 30 September.[2] This will give them access to a wide range of vital support services, including legal and HR advice, financial products and health and wellbeing support.

Chris Sims, BT’s MD for SoHo (Small Office/Home Office) said: “Today’s launch of our new partnership network for the UK’s smallest firms marks the latest phase in our ongoing mission to support the growth of small businesses. We share this vision with FSB, so we’re excited to partner together to spearhead the launch of our new network to deliver reciprocal benefits to their members and BT customers. Our new partnership network will make our technology, skills and expertise even more accessible for small businesses, while making it easier for them do business and grow in an increasingly sophisticated world. We look forward to adding more partners to our network over the coming weeks.”

Caroline Lavelle, FSB’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’re delighted to partner with BT on this initiative to give our members an opportunity to further their digital marketing reach. FSB has said before that it is important that big tech companies play a role in supporting our smaller businesses in improving their digital capabilities and it’s good that BT is taking a lead in this. The partnership will also encourage more small businesses to reap the benefits of FSB membership.”

BT’s new partnership network for the UK’s smallest firms will expand over the coming weeks and months. Starting with FSB, the new scheme will see BT forging mutually beneficial partnerships with a number of like-minded organisations across a range of sectors, including retail, banking, finance and membership bodies, to bring value-added benefits to its smallest customers.

The launch of the new partnership network forms part of BT’s recently announced  Enterprise Customer Charter. The new charter is made up of a range of new initiatives from BT aimed at boosting the growth of UK businesses and the public sector and includes a pledge around delivering standout customer experiences.

Notes to editors:

·         To access the BT Digital Marketing Hub offer, FSB members should quote code FSB150 when setting up their online account for BT’s Digital Marketing Hub or by calling 0800 916 0882

·         BT business customers wanting to access the FSB membership offer should quote code BT15 when applying for their membership online, or by calling the FSB team on 0808 164 2799

[1] Available until 30 September 2022 to FSB members who are new BT Digital Marketing Hub customers. To be eligible for the offer, they must also create a Digital Marketing Hub Account; create and book a campaign by 30 September 2022;

and have been provided with a voucher. The offer is only applicable to the customer’s first campaign booked on the BT Digital Marketing Hub. The campaign must run for no longer than 30 days in total.

[2] FSB Membership starts from £147 per annum with a £30 registration fee in the first year. This rate is applicable to businesses

with no employees. Rates increase depending on your number of employees. Full rates payable for future years’ membership.

BT today announced the launch of a new product that will boost fixed broadband speeds for thousands of UK small businesses which are yet to be upgraded to fibre broadband.

BT’s Hybrid Speed Boost product is the first in the UK to combine a copper broadband line with EE’s leading 4G network to provide an automatic uplift in speeds, by bonding connections from broadband and mobile networks together. Businesses can benefit from an average download speed boost of 20Mbps - more than twice the average download speed for copper broadband connections. Average upload speeds can be uplifted to 10Mbps – which is ten times the average upload speed for copper lines.[1]

Hybrid Speed Boost is included at no extra cost for new BT business broadband customers taking ADSL broadband plans. Existing customers can also benefit when they renew their plan.[2]

BT’s Enterprise business is launching the new product as an interim solution for small firms in those parts of the country which are yet to be upgraded to fibre broadband, as BT Group continues to extend its full fibre network across the country. BT Group is aiming to reach 25 million homes and businesses with full fibre by the end of 2026, working with its infrastructure partner, Openreach, which has already brought the technology to 7.2 million premises. Openreach is currently building full fibre to around 50,000 premises a week, putting it on target to reach 10 million premises by the end of March, 2023.

Chris Sims, BT’s MD for its SoHo (Single/Small Office, Home Office) unit, said: “Using cutting-edge technology, we’re launching the first product in the UK to fuse fixed and mobile connections together to bring faster speeds to small firms which might be struggling on slower copper lines. While the Openreach full fibre network is expanding at pace, week on week, we understand the frustration of small firms who risk being stuck behind as they wait to hear when ultrafast full fibre broadband will come to them. Fast, reliable broadband is vital for the smooth, day to day running of a business, so we’ve taken action today to boost speeds for business taking copper broadband – at no extra cost.

“Hybrid Speed Boost could revolutionise operations for small businesses that may currently be struggling with the required bandwidth to process large files, access cloud services or use HD video.”

Benjy Levey, Director at Eat Me Events based in London, said: “I’m really impressed at the speeds we’re now getting using the new Hybrid Speed Boost solution. On average we’re now getting 30-40Mbps download speeds and 14-15Mbps upload – the uplift in speed is transformative for our business for when we’re meeting with clients and suppliers via video calls. There's no more buffering or dropped connections! Customer data downloads have got so much quicker too.”

The launch of BT’s new Hybrid Speed Boost product sees BT deliver on its first commitment contained within its recently announced  Enterprise Customer Charter. The new charter is made up of a range of new initiatives from BT aimed at boosting the growth of UK businesses and the public sector and includes a pledge to develop inclusive tech to assist those small businesses which are struggling on slower, copper lines.

BT is also introducing a new ‘no-frills’ fibre broadband package for cost-conscious small firms in fibre enabled areas. Fibre 38 is a new landline free fibre broadband package which uses Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) technology and offers BT’s lowest prices for fibre-based business broadband. BT’s Fibre 38 package delivers guaranteed minimum speeds of up to 38Mbps, unlimited data, built-in business-grade security tools - all without the need for businesses to add a phone line.  

Ends

Notes to Editors

• Customers can find out more about Hybrid Speed Boost here: Help with Hybrid Speed Boost | Help | BT Business (custhelp.com)
• Hybrid Speed Boost from BT is underpinned by MultiPath TCP (MPTCP) technology from Tessares. MultiPath TCP is an enhancement to TCP, and enables the efficient, selective combining of existing network assets. It takes TCP based traffic and is able to split the traffic over multiple paths (such as fixed and mobile networks) to deliver increased speeds to customers.
• Find out more about Tessares here: www.tessares.net/
• Hybrid Speed Boost boosts TCP web traffic, which covers the vast majority of web traffic. Other types of traffic such as UDP are not boosted. This is typically VPN traffic and online gaming.[3]
• Speed boost based on tests showing median uplift of 20Mbps in download speeds (rounded to the nearest whole Mbps) over a 24-hour period.

[1] Average speed boost based on tests showing median uplift of 20Mbps download speed and 10Mbps upload, rounded to the nearest whole Mbps. Uplift in speed is not guaranteed and any uplift will vary depending on your indoor EE 4G Network coverage, the time of day and the number of people using the network. The average download speed on ADSL without Hybrid Speed Boost is significantly lower than 20Mbps, so when adding the average Hybrid Speed Boost uplift of 20Mbps, on average, this is more than double the original speed. The average upload speed on ADSL without Hybrid Speed Boost is below 1Mbps, while the average uplift with Hybrid Speed Boost is 10Mbps. On average this is more than 10 times faster than the original download speed.

[2] Hybrid Speed Boost add-on available to new or re-signing BT Business Broadband customers on ADSL (copper) access lines only. Not available on fibre. Suitable EE 4G network coverage (as advised by BT), Smart Hub 2 router and Hybrid Connect device required.

[3] Through MPTCP, only TCP based traffic will be boosted. UDP or other protocols such as QUIC will not be boosted.

BT today unveiled a new Charter for its 1.2 million UK business and public sector customers, providing a blueprint for BT to accelerate a range of initiatives aimed at boosting  the growth of UKplc.

The Charter consists of a new set of commitments from BT to provide its Enterprise customers with a springboard for growth - delivered through a greater focus on innovation, world-class cyber security, a new suite of digital services, customer service improvements and purpose-driven goals. The new commitments outlined today include the following highlights, with the full details of the Charter available here.

• Investing almost £100 million over the next three years in BT’s ‘Division X’ unit within Enterprise - to accelerate the development of customer solutions which integrate emerging technologies like 5G, IoT, Edge Compute, Cloud and AI. These new solutions will transform and modernise key industries like manufacturing, health, port operations, transport and logistics, driving positive business outcomes and fuelling the UK economy.
• Launching sophisticated cyber defence and assessment tools which are not currently offered by other UK network providers - starting with its Safe Security cyber health check tool which is available to larger UK corporate and public sector customers today, with smaller customers set to benefit over time. 
• Developing inclusive tech to boost broadband speeds for small firms not yet served by fibre broadband. BT will launch the first service in the UK which fuses fixed and 4G speeds together to uplift broadband speeds for thousands of small firms currently using copper lines.
• Delivering the fastest installation and repair times in the industry for ultrafast business (or Ethernet) connections - which underpin the operations of mid to large corporates and public sector bodies.
• Forming a new partnership network for small firms - giving customers access to exclusive offers across broadband, mobile, digital marketing and connected devices, plus other benefits, with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) confirmed as BT’s first launch partner.
• Pioneering a new suite of smart business tools which combine the best of BT and EE to make it easier for small businesses to run and grow their business. This new portfolio will build on the recent launch of BT’s Digital Marketing Hub – the new all-in-one advertising platform which gives small firms all the tools and support they need to reach millions of potential new customers.
• Stepping up its free digital skills programme to reach a further 350,000 small business and their employees by the end of March 2023.
• Accelerating sustainable initiatives to support customers’ Net Zero journeys – including the removal of all single use plastics and using recycled materials for new BT business product packaging and devices by the end of March 2023.

Rob Shuter, CEO of Enterprise, BT Group, said: “Right now, our key industries are on the cusp of a technological revolution as the UK prepares to make the large-scale switch from analogue to fully digital ways of working. Only businesses which make the leap will succeed and stay competitive - our role is to help them navigate that journey.

“It’s an ideal time for us to set out why BT really means business. Our new Charter reflects the priorities that our 1.2m business and public customers expect to see from BT. We’ve listened to their feedback and based our Charter on four key promises – that we’ll lead the way in innovation; we’ll be trusted experts in our fields; we’ll be easier to do business with; and we’ll continue to put purpose at the heart of our business.”

The Charter reflects four key priorities for BT over the next financial year and beyond, to better serve the needs of its UK customers - spanning sole-traders, start-ups, SMEs, corporates, public sector bodies and communications providers:

Innovation: BT will fast track technology innovation across the UK – so that businesses, communities and the UK economy can flourish.

Expertise: BT will use its expertise to take businesses into the digital fast lane and soup up security – like no other provider.

Easy to do business with: BT will deliver standout customer experiences – making it easier to do business with.

Purpose-driven: BT will use its responsible, inclusive and sustainable tech to Connect for Good – and will help its customers do the same.

The launch of today’s Charter coincides with a fresh chapter in the evolution of BT’s Group’s brand strategy, with BT being positioned as the Group’s flagship brand for business and public sector customers in the UK and globally. A multi-million pound UK TV and out-of-home advertising campaign kickstarts this week to signal the beginning of this transformation, using the creative strapline, ‘BT Means Business.’

BT unveiled the details of its new Charter at an event today to mark the opening of its new ‘Aurora’ customer innovation showcase at its global headquarters in London. The new facility spotlights BT’s latest R&D around Enterprise solutions incorporating digital components like 5G, IoT, robotics, and AI – and how these can be applied across key industries like Healthcare, Manufacturing and Smart Cities.

While large organisations often have entire teams dedicated to security, many smaller businesses with limited bandwidth and resources struggle to understand the steps they need to take to protect their organisation. In fact, in a recent survey 65% of small businesses said they had sought external information or guidance on security in the last 12 months[1], with many organizations remaining unclear on the appropriate methods to safeguard their business.

In response, BT have partnered with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to provide businesses with top tips for staying secure online. The NCSC is the nation’s technical authority on cyber security and provides products and guidance for SMEs, larger organisations, government agencies and the public.

Tip 1 – Backing up Your Data

All businesses, regardless of size, should take regular backups of their important data, and make sure that these backups are recent and can be restored. By doing this, you are ensuring your business can still function following the impact of flood, fire, physical damage, or theft. Furthermore, if you have backups of your data that you can quickly respond and recover in the event of a cyber breach

Your first step is to identify your essential data. This is the information that your business could not function without. Normally, this will comprise of documents, photos, emails, contacts, and calendars, most of which are kept in just a few common folders on your computer, phone, tablet, or network.

Once you have identified your most important data, keep your backups separate from your main computers. Whether it's on a USB stick, on a separate drive or a separate computer, access to data backups should be restricted so that they are not accessible by unauthorised staff members and are not permanently connected to the device holding the original copy. You can also back up your data with cloud storage, which means your data is physically separated from your computers and can be accessed from any device, simply by logging into your cloud environment.

Tip 2 – Protecting Your Organisation from Malware

Malicious software (also known as 'malware') is software or web content that can harm your organisation. This can include viruses, spyware, or ransomware which prevents users from accessing their computers (or the data stored on them) until a ransom is paid.

For all your IT equipment, make sure that the software and firmware is always kept up to date with the latest versions from software developers, hardware suppliers and vendors. Applying these updates is one of the most important things you can do to improve security - the IT version of eating your fruit and veg.

Ensure that your organisation is also running antivirus software across all your laptops and computers. Antivirus software is often included free within popular operating systems and can typically be enabled with one click. This is the same for firewalls which create a 'buffer zone' between your own network and external networks (such as the Internet). BT works with the NCSC on its ‘Active Cyber Defence’ programme, which aims to prevent the majority of malicious emails from reaching individuals and businesses in the UK – but most popular operating systems also now include a firewall, which you can switch on to protect yourself even further.

Tip 3 – Avoiding Phishing Attacks

A phishing attack is when scammers send fake emails to potential victims, asking them for sensitive information (such as bank details), or containing links to malicious websites. Scammers might try to trick you into sending money, giving away business details to sell on, or have their own motives for accessing your organisation's network.

Many phishing emails will often have similar warning signs which can include:

• Poor spelling, grammar, and punctuation

• Generic greeting, such as ‘Dear Customer’ rather than using your name

• A sense of urgency

• Email from high-ranking persons within your organisation, asking you to do something outside normal processes

• An offer of money or exclusive benefit

However, expecting your staff to identify and report all phishing emails is an unrealistic request, as fraudulent emails are becoming harder to spot. Never punish users who are struggling to recognise suspicious emails – users who fear reprisals will not report mistakes promptly, if at all. Instead, build a culture where users can confidently report phishing attempts (including ones that are clicked on) by having an effective process in place for reporting. You can then take steps to scan for malware and change passwords in a timely manner if you suspect a successful breach has occurred.

For further information on implementing these top tips, check out the NCSC’s Small Business Guide: Cyber Security

BT’s Top Tips on Tech page also has a dedicated section of security for businesses alongside wider guidance for staying safe online. In addition, our Skills for Tomorrow site has a range of guidance on improving Cyber Security in your organisation.

[1] Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2020: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2020