Businesses encouraged to claim £3000 grants for better broadband
Businesses in 22 cities around the UK have until March 2015 to apply for a Government grant worth up to £3000 to start reaping the business benefits of faster broadband speeds and better connectivity.
The scheme allows businesses to apply for grants of up to £3,000 each to cover the costs of installing faster and better broadband. So far, almost 3,000 businesses in the UK’s superconnected cities have received grants, with hundreds more currently going through the application process.
The grant, in the form of a voucher, is part of the government’s broadband transformation across the country, helping cities to create and attract new jobs and investment and make the UK the best place in the world to do business.
Benefits to businesses as a result of faster, better broadband include:
– Growing and accessing new markets through better communication with customers and suppliers
– Increasing security through fast secure back-up of data
– Increasing productivity and improving customer service through faster upload and download speeds
– Reduce the costs of software and hardware by benefiting from the option of online applications and data storage
– Enhance the way you communicate and collaborate by accommodating colleagues, clients and partners on real-time video calls, and by sharing information on cloud-based software
– Businesses can find out more about this offer and apply through the broadband connection vouchers website
Sajid Javid, secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said: “We want to make sure that small businesses have the help and support they need to grow and prosper in our digital age. That is why we are providing these grants to help small businesses meet their challenges.
“I urge all eligible small businesses to apply straight away and help boost their businesses with faster broadband.”
Matthew Hancock, business minister said: “In today’s economy, not being online is simply not an option and nearly every small firm I meet says that a fast, reliable broadband connection is vital for growth. So I urge our small businesses to make the most of this opportunity and apply for broadband vouchers.
“Making sure that all our businesses can access the resources they need to grow is grow is an important part of our long-term economic plan, and we are determined to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business.”
The superconnected cities programme is running alongside the UK government’s rollout of superfast broadband to rural areas which has already brought superfast access to more than 1 million homes and businesses. By 2017, 95% of the UK will be able to access superfast speeds.
