By Michael Grove, WDA project manager for the Corus ICT programme

TWELVE months ago I started writing this column in order to keep Gwent businesses aware of the opportunities available through the Corus ICT Programme.

A year on seems a good time to reflect on what's been achieved and to look forward to the future.

Looking back on 2004, I can see clear comparisons between the business adoption of ICT in Gwent, and the exploits of the Welsh rugby team.

Both have suffered from a lack of confidence in the past, but the recent improvement in quality has been obvious to everyone. What's more, these improvements are long term.

Mike Ruddock is building a team that eats right, trains well and knows what it needs to do to win.

In many of the businesses I have seen the same kind of joined-up approach to using ICT is emerging strongly. Business is a world stage, and no matter how much we in Wales improve, others elsewhere will be improving too.

While 2004 tells a very positive story, I think it's important to keep pushing on and setting our sights higher.

On the whole, businesses in Gwent are using ICT to their advantage much more, reaping the benefits of accepting assistance and making investments in ICT infrastructure and training.

Like the Wales team who played so brilliantly to almost beat the Springboks and the All Blacks, Gwent businesses are so 'nearly there' with ICT.

Meeting scores of businesses over the year has been an educational experience for me. Gwent business people are honest and forthright, and give as good as they get!

Regular readers of this column will have seen the diversity of businesses who saw they had ICT improvements to make and embraced and benefited from the resources on offer.

Although the programme is scheduled to finish at the end of March 2005, the foundations and networks we've put in place will carry on helping the local business community for years to come.

The programme has been a framework for council decision-makers to work together more closely and build a better environment for ICT in business.

Another legacy of the programme is the network of six, permanently staffed ICT centres now established in the region. Their work will continue, and I urge all businesses that haven't already contacted their local ICT centre adviser to do so immediately.

In the beginning, one of our targets was to directly assist 75 companies in Blaenau Gwent. I'm happy to say that we're close to beating that target in these final three months.

In Blaenau Gwent alone, we have awarded 44 equipment grants and 21 grants for training.

Add those to grants approved in the other four county boroughs, and the figure is more than 500.

The programme has delivered in other ways, too. More than 600 days of valuable IT consultation have been provided for local businesses. A total of over 2,000 businesses have attended workshops, received technical reviews and taken part in educational sessions.

So the big question is, what's in store for 2005?

Firstly, the £3m Valleys Information Technology and Communication Centre (VITTC) based at Tredegar will be built.

This development will be one of Wales' leading centres for IT training and a focal point for the various local enterprise support agencies.

In the scrummage of technology innovations, look out for something called voice over Internet protocol (VoIP).

If you have Broadband you could stand to make dramatic savings on telephone call costs using VoIP.

It employs connections you've already paid for to allow you to make unlimited phone calls at no extra cost.

ICT security will become a greater issue, unfortunately, but businesses shouldn't be frozen by fear.

There are simple, inexpensive ways of guarding against viruses and hackers, so be prepared.

A top-class defensive line-up doesn't need to cost the earth.

Every team needs to keep building, and to that end we will be appointing Richard Whitehead - my colleague at the WDA - as the e-business project executive for the five districts.

He will be a permanent resource for the region, while I move on to other projects at the agency.

I wish you all good luck in your individual businesses as you kick off the new year.

If you have any ICT-related questions contact me by telephone on 08457 77577 or send an email to corus.regeneration@wda.co.uk