Tackling new technology is the bane of many small businesses – now one woman has made it her mission to change the way they work with it.

After a successful trial involving 50 tradespeople, Maria Coulter – an award-winning Business Coach from Leicester – is inviting 1,000 SME construction and trade businesses to join a free, CITB-funded course in IT training called “Solving Tech for Small Builders”.

“Understanding IT and how it can help your small business can be the difference between success and failure,” said Maria, who has spent over a decade helping small firms overcome the hurdles they face.

Saves money, frees up time

“This is about helping builders stand out through professionalism, pricing confidence and better systems.

“The right technology, used in the right way, can save money, free up time and give you the confidence to grow. It is not about pushing one piece of software for everyone. It is about finding what works best for each business.”

The IT programme covers:
• How to find out where your business is losing time, money and reputation
• Advice on choosing the right tech for your business, from AI assistants to Project Management systems.
• Tips for using tech to price your projects, manage your clients relationships and your workforce
• Fortnightly live Zoom sessions and recorded lessons you can watch back whenever you need.

“Think of it like an IT toolkit,” said Maria. “You’d reach for a hammer or screwdriver, so I want small builders to see IT as an extension of those tools.”

Founded Construction Coach

Maria, a straight-talking Northerner originally from the North-East, has been involved in construction from the age of 16 and says her passion for coaching others in the industry began during her time as project manager in a recession.

“I love the industry, but the culture was way behind, and I knew we needed to get better at how we do business. So I took the leap and founded Construction Coach, which offers coaching and training programmes, and since then have never looked back.

The trialled IT programme was funded by the CITB Impact Fund and the feedback has been very positive, confidence levels have doubled in finding the right tech and embedding it into their business. The funding also covers the online version of the course, starting this September. Businesses can sign up at: https://solvingconstruction.com/

Another key part of the programme is building a community. Participants will join a network of other small business owners who are on the same journey, sharing ideas and solutions to help each other succeed.

Of a million small construction companies in Britain – most with fewer than 50 employees – 94% still rely on spreadsheets for tasks such as admin, estimating and planning.

“That needs to change,” said Maria, “and hopefully this course will be one giant step in the right direction.”