Brent Council is expanding its digital support programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering free advice, webinars, and tutorials to local businesses. The initiative aims to enhance digital inclusion and equip businesses with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy. As part of the Digital Support Programme for SMEs, businesses are able to access free advice, webinars and tutorials.

The announcement was made during a Joint Committee meeting on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, where digital updates from the council were presented. The Public Reports Pack detailed the progress of Brent's digital programme, which began in 2017, and its refreshed Digital Strategy for 2022-26, agreed in December 2021.

Alongside the business support programme, Brent's digital achievements from March to June 2025 include:

  • Exceeding the 2026 connectivity target of 62% full fibre coverage, reaching 68.6%.
  • Providing over 190 devices to digitally excluded residents through the Digital Support Fund for Children and Young People and Resident Digital Support Fund.
  • Reviewing and streamlining Social Care Mosaic forms and workflows.
  • Providing staff digital skills support through a dedicated work programme.
  • Launching three new Robotic Process Automations (RPAs) that have increased efficiency in teams and reduced errors.
  • Successfully deploying the Responsive Repairs and Planned Works (Section 20).
  • Implementing patches and creating new dashboards in Dynamics.
  • Deploying 2 high and 2 low complexity automations that have increased efficiency in teams, reduced error and enabled faster data driven decisions.
  • Launching Brent Council's first Conversational AI parking chatbot, which is reducing the pressure on the parking team to respond to enquiries.
  • Providing 157 active users with copilot licenses.
  • Launching a new Corporate Booking System called Bookings Plus, helping to increase revenue generation from setting up preferred payments and direct debits early.
  • Successfully launching a new contract with 8x8 Contact Centre Solution on 1 May.