THERE has been a significant growth in the number of small businesses using broadband services in the south east, a new report has revealed.

The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Lifting the Barriers to Growth in UK Small Businesses shows that in 2002 only four per cent of respondents were accessing the internet via broadband. In 2004 this had increased to 37 per cent.

The survey also found that: l 34 per cent of small firms had established a broadband connection within the last two years; l More than half of respondents (54 per cent) had a business website for their company; l Only 13 per cent had a facility for on-line trading and only six per cent had the ability to take payments on line.

Robin Lawrence, Thames Valley FSB chairman, said: "What we need to ensure now is that small businesses have the confidence to embrace e-commerce, instead of merely using their websites as online catalogues for their goods and services.

"What we as an organisation are working on now, is material to explain and develop an understanding of the potential of broadband as a working tool."