Only 60 per cent of small businesses in the South West have basic digital skills and only 55 per cent are using social media, according to the latest Lloyds UK Business Digital Index.

The study has found that a quarter of small businesses don't see being online as an essential method of boosting business.

Gareth Oakley, managing director of SME banking in the Lloyds Banking Group said: "As ever, digital shows a strong correlation with saving time, increasing turnover and improving likelihood to trade overseas".

The biggest way businesses have moved forward in there online presence has been through social media. Over the last year, 7 per cent more small businesses have begun using social media for promotion. Facebook remains the biggest platform for driving online revenues with Twitter being the fastest growing.

Mags Naylor, CEO at Exeter Leukaemia Fund, explained how they had seen real change over the last 12 month thanks to a new digital strategy. She said: "by streamlining processes and increasing efficiencies, we have saved over £100,000 in the last year which can go towards supporting patients and families".

Older charities have proven to be less digitally capable than a business that was established since 2007.

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