Grants for superfast broadband now available to Huntingdonshire businesses
A government scheme to help small and medium businesses in Huntingdonshire to install superfast broadband has been announced today.
Connection vouchers provide grants of between £100 - £3000 to install superfast broadband to business buildings. The funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis until March 2016.
The scheme is run by Connecting Cambridgeshire (a partnership of local authorities) and funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
The vouchers pay for the one-off cost of installing superfast broadband to offices, which can be expensive and prevent businesses from getting better connectivity.
Huntingdonshire has over 9000 businesses that could benefit from the funding. Charities and social enterprises are also eligible. Groups of businesses can apply together for connection vouchers and pool the funding together. This enables a whole office block or business park to be upgraded to superfast broadband.
Connection vouchers were previously only available to Cambridge and the surrounding area, but Connecting Cambridgeshire has been able to work with government to extend it across other districts.
Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey said: "This is fantastic news for Huntingdonshire businesses, and I'd encourage any firm that's struggling with slow internet speeds to apply for a voucher immediately. Across the UK, thousands of businesses have already taken up the vouchers and I'm delighted that the scheme has now been extended to include Huntingdonshire as well. "
Councillor Mathew Shuter, Business Champion at Cambridgeshire County Council said: “Superfast broadband is vital for all businesses and our local economy. I am delighted that we can now offer the scheme to businesses across the county to ensure that they can grow and compete in an increasingly digital world.”
Councillor Jason Ablewhite, Executive Leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “The extension of eligibility for these grants to include Huntingdonshire is most welcome news. I urge all our local businesses to make the most of this opportunity to reduce the cost of connecting to superfast broadband.”
Through Connecting Cambridgeshire’s business support project, Destination Digital, it has helped over 700 businesses across Cambridgeshire to use digital technology.
Businesses can find out more about connection vouchers and apply online on the Destination Digital website: www.destinationdigital.info
RICHARD WISHART'S VIEW
Bringing Huntingdonshire companies into a scheme that has been available in other parts of Cambridgeshire for a very long time is very good news. The shame is that it has taken so long !! I would like to know more about the Ultra Fast trial that is planned for Huntingdon and how this scheme would apply.
I would like to know exactly the amount of funding being made available to Huntingdonshire companies through this scheme - The Destination Digital scheme quickly ran out of money and it would be good to know the overall size of the budget?
Another concern is that Broadband is normally purchased as a monthly recurring charge - how can a capital grant be used to pay for a recurring cost ?
Happy to help any Huntingdonshire businesses with their bids. We should be looking for collaborative 1Gbps solutions like they currently have in Peterborough funded by connection vouchers
