Do you want the opportunity to earn more money?

Many of the UK's 24 million employed people could be doing just that if their employers were to grasp the importance of updating business-critical information technology.

Using out-of-date computers is costing the economy millions in lost revenue and inefficient working practices.

One reason is most small businesses cannot afford to employ a manager to oversee their computer systems and ensure employees have the most efficient tools at their disposal.

This means small businesses operate at a disadvantage when they try to compete with bigger players. They cannot spare the time to research new technology or afford the expensive implementation of new systems.

Couple this with a marked reluctance to spend money on "even more computers when the ones we have are still working" and the situation is unlikely to be resolved without some hard thinking by bosses.

With a projected value of £16.2 billion in the next three years, the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) market is a massive part of the UK economy and it could be a whole lot bigger.

Efficient computers and communications are a key element in the growth of a modern business.

Imagine the impact on UK trade if every business in the country could be contacted electronically.

Unfortunately, there are still thousands of businesses that claim they have no use for digital communications and refuse to spend on technology.

Communications are the lifeblood of industry. The internet has become the fastest way to communicate and now that a vast amount of business is conducted on a global level there is an even greater need to communicate, just to keep up with rivals.

In the past, a small business knew who and where its potential customers were. This has changed.

Nowadays your customers could be anywhere in the world. It is up to you to find them and sell to them.

This week, I spoke to a Brighton company which is having brochures printed in Switzerland because, even though the quality of Swiss print is comparable with local suppliers, the price is better.

On a personal level, I buy many of my books from a small privately-owned bookshop in the United States because they are at a better price (even with postage and packing) than I can buy them in the UK.

Many UK businesses are falling behind in the race to grab a chunk of the world market and will suffer badly in the long-term.

However, there is a glimmer of a solution.

BT has launched an initiative to help hard-pressed SMEs progress. Its e-business Made Easy programme is free to attend and could help UK businesses deal overseas competitors a blow.

Already more than 3,500 business people have received advice from BT's specialists about their e-business requirements, Many have changed the way they run their business.

BT, on its own, cannot solve the problems with a simple technology initiative but at least it is trying.

With more initiatives like this, coupled with sound technological and communications advice from local experts and a more proactive approach to global marketing from SMEs, the UK may be able to stave off the worst effects of the economic downturn.

It would be foolish not to take a look around and see what is on offer.