This document describes a project designed to identify a role for continuing education colleges in Great Britain in supporting the growing application of information technology (IT) in the distributive trades, with particular reference to businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Following an introduction, section 2 describes the questionnaires sent to small businesses, colleges, trade associations, and private training agencies and the seminar conducted to address the needs identified by the questionnaire. Section 3 highlights the areas where planning and support are most needed in any program of short courses. Section 4 describes a program and materials for a theoretical short course that can serve as a model for designing such a course for a given market. Appropriate learning materials are contained in section 5 and additional assignments are in section 6. The questionnaires appear in appendices 1 and 2. Other appendices contain descriptions and/or lists of alternative funding sources, software and hardware options, suggested periodicals, 11 references, and addresses and phone numbers of organizations that may act as resources. (CML)