The digital maturity survey for Wales 2020

Improving the efficiency of Welsh SMEs is critical to improving Wales’ future economic prospects and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Digital Maturity Survey for Wales 2020 provides evidence on how SMEs are responding to these challenges by adopting and using the digital technologies enabled by broadband access. It draws on Cardiff Business School’s fifth annual survey (and final survey under the Welsh Government’s Superfast Broadband Business Exploitation Programme) and illustrates the growing digitalisation of Welsh businesses and the impact that this is having on their performance. During 2020, the regional (and indeed and the UK and global) economy has faced severe disruption associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in periods of national and regional ‘lockdown’ in which economic activity declined, as many businesses either ceased trading or encouraged staff to work from home. These challenges have been reflected in Welsh Government’s strategy ‘Leading Wales out of the COVID-19 pandemic: a framework for recovery’ as well as the introduction of new business support and funding mechanisms, particularly those relating to the Economic Resilience Fund.