Could your business get help with faster Broadband?
It was a little while ago now, but the new Government Broadband Connection Vouchers Scheme which was mentioned in the March budget; launched on April 1st and your business could take advantage of up to £3k in vouchers towards improving your broadband speeds.
There are so many places in Exeter, especially where businesses are concentrated where the broadband speed is not fast enough to maintain the online requirements of todays’ business. Marsh Barton is particularly affected, and you can keep up to date with it here https://www.facebook.com/MarshBartonForum
Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) is a Government Unit who are driven to improving Broadband speeds in the UK, with over £1billion invested in order to:-
•Provide superfast broadband to 90% of the UK by 2016
•Explore options for universal superfast broadband coverage across the UK by 2018
•Create 22 ‘SuperConnected Cities’ across the UK this year
•Improve mobile coverage by 2016
Ref: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
As an IT Business supplier (note: not an ISP) we are asked everyday about how a business can take advantage of these vouchers and if it will make a difference. I mention we are not an ISP, as this would be the usual route for a business to take. However, as these vouchers enable you to have costs towards a Leased Line, and with this comes questions, surveys, prices changing and advice needed for your current IT set up.
This is where we come in, we can advise you on all things Leased Line, handhold you through the surveys and pricing, liaise between you and the Best Business ISP we recommend. This means you can carry on with your business until the Leased Line is installed and let us worry for you.
Here is our lowdown on Government Connection Vouchers:-
To check your eligibility visit https://www.connectionvouchers.co.uk/exeter if you are eligible you can either use a Bristol based supplier, or give us a call and we can advise you where best to start, keeping it local. There are also a few more areas you need to consider:-
•That you employ fewer than 250 employees and volunteers
•Your turnover is less than £50m
•You have received less than £200k in grants this past 12 months
•You are based within the EX1-EX5 postcode areas
How do you apply?
The first application needs to be through Exeter City Council, for more information email them on invest@exeter.gov.uk
So, you have applied and been successful, now what happens?
Well you can decide how the money will best improve your business; it could be you choose Leased Line, better broadband connections, free WiFi for visitors and guests or if you are in a ‘hub’ of businesses you all chip into establish better broadband inks to the area.
Cllr Rosie Denham, Exeter Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: “Broadband provision has been an issue for parts of Exeter for some time. …. The inclusion of Exeter in this initiative is therefore very much welcomed and I hope that Exeter’s small and medium-sized companies will take advantage of the Connection Voucher scheme to upgrade their Broadband connection.”
This is an important scheme for those businesses struggling with fast Internet connections, an application will not take long and it really will change your business with faster connections.
If you have any questions, concerns or just don’t know what this is all about then call Mark Thomas on 01392 824022 or email sales@amesolutions.co.uk