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Canada to help small businesses thrive in the digital economy
As small businesses adapt to the digital economy and the lasting impacts of COVID-19 , the Government of Canada is working to help them continue to grow , thrive and create good jobs .
The Prime Minister , Justin Trudeau , has announced the launch of the Canada Digital Adoption Programme ( CDAP ), to help Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses grow their online presence and upgrade or adopt digital technologies . This investment , which will provide CA $ 4 billion over four years , will support up to 160,000 small businesses and create good middleclass jobs across the country , including thousands of jobs for young Canadians .
Under the CDAP , Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) will be able to assess their digital readiness and apply for grants and loans online .
This funding will help them leverage e-commerce opportunities , upgrade or adopt digital technologies and digitise their operations .
Diversity is a strategic priority for six in 10 start-ups
Nearly two thirds of startups ( 63 %) say making their workforce more diverse is a strategic priority in the year ahead , according to research from Innovate UK .
Innovate UK found a further fifth ( 22 %) of start-ups say they have done some work to make their workforce more diverse but could do more and only 16 % say making their workforce more diverse is not a strategic priority .
The research found that six in 10 ( 62 %) start-ups are currently recruiting and of these 77 % are actively recruiting diverse candidates . regardless of whether they are currently recruiting or not .
“ Our research shows that a diverse workforce brings immense benefits to start-up life , boosting everything from workplace culture to R & D and business performance ,” said Jonny Voon , Head of the Sustainable Innovation Fund at Innovate UK .
Across all start-ups , nearly three quarters ( 71 %) have diversity targets ,
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Plum adds customisable widgets to its investing app |
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Investment app , Plum , has added an innovative widget feature for its iOS users to make it easier to keep track of their finances . |
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Plum helps customers put away money into a savings ‘ pocket ’, which they can personalise with a specific goal they want to save up for , and the new feature simplifies the way users can keep track of progress made . |
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Victor Trokoudes , CEO and Co-founder , Plum , said : “ We are constantly looking for ways to respond to user feedback and enhance our functionality , to ensure we are offering users the best possible service and making managing their money as simple and accessible as possible . |
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“ This new feature adds an additional layer of customisation , further enhancing our offer and aim to help customers keep on track with their finances .” |
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