Work24, a joint venture from ScottishPower and The Royal Bank of Scotland, unites the power of the Internet with UK small business on one free site

The joint venture company formed between ScottishPower and The Royal Bank of Scotland today announced the launch of their new small business portal. The portal, the joint venture's first website, is targeted at the UK's 3.6 million small and medium sized businesses and features a range of products and services centred on satisfying small business needs.

The £70 million joint venture was announced earlier this year and aims to create new channels of distribution for utility and banking services to be offered to its combined customer base.

Work24 is built upon the expertise of its parent companies in building and growing businesses. The site is ideal for companies with no web experience and those who are already using the web but have not had the time to develop their own commercial e-presence.

Work24 enables any SME to:

• Increase sales, by providing everything a business needs to launch into e-commerce with its web site building facility and tools to monitor visits & orders to the web site.
• Take advantage of special offers exclusive to Work24 and purchase key office products and services online, e.g. office stationery, computer hardware & software and travel.
• Find effective business advice and information especially designed for SMEs including access to the latest news headlines, specialist business topics on issues such as business ownership and management, buying and procurement, sales and commerce. There are also online learning tools.
• Conduct meetings with colleagues, suppliers and customers online, saving time and money. 
• Establish an electronic office, which is a suite of services offering e-mail facilities, document storage, calendar and task management, group communications and SMS text messaging. 
• Network with other small businesses through the members directory which allows them to promote their products & services to each other.

The site also provides free advertising for member companies as well as facilitating trading between Work24 companies and providing access to a broad range of information and expertise.

Recently appointed Chief Executive, Steve Ross, who joined from AGENCY.COM, where he was the Vice President of Operations, Europe, said, "Work24 aims to give small businesses in the UK a kick-start into the world of e-commerce. It provides all the services a small business needs at the click of a mouse, backed by the resources of two of the UK's top businesses. We aim to become the definitive small business portal within the next 12 months".

Further Information:

Steph Macleod, Firefly Communications
Tel. 0207 386 1538 or the Work24 Press Centre on 0207 386 1558
Email: steph.macleod@firefly.co.uk