A SWINDON accountancy firm is spearheading a Govern- ment-backed push to help small businesses improve their computer skills.

Morris Owen, in Devizes Road, has launched a home computer initiative under the umbrella of the Independent Association Of Accountants Information Technology Consultants.

Under the IAAITC scheme employees in small businesses can lease PCs and software tax free in exchange for a small fee deducted from their wages.

The Government wants to encourage workers to improve their IT skills.

The hope is that, for example, those confident enough to do their banking at home will be able to perform similar tasks at work.

There are many home computer initiatives in multinational companies but, so far, hardly any small businesses have signed up.

Morris Owen's IT partner Ian Sumbler said: "Small businesses are falling behind their larger counterparts in IT, not just in this country but globally.

"The IAAITC's remit is independent IT advice delivered through firms of accountants."

Morris Owen has been testing the scheme on itself so it would feel confident recommending it to clients.

Morris Owen applied to the Office Of Fair Trading in November to set the ball rolling and it placed orders before Christmas for computers for several staff .

All the computers are to be installed in homes by Wednesday.

The installation and maintenance is carried out by the computer firms, not by the business running the scheme.

Mr Sumbler said some employees joined in because they wanted a computer in the house for children to use for research for homework and coursework, although several people had decided to upgrade their current computer through the scheme.

The IAAITC's scheme is sponsored by Intel, which is launching it on January 26 at its Pipers Way HQ.