26/02/14

New ways to quicken broadband for SMEs in Coventry & Warwickshire

SMEs and voluntary organisations in Coventry have been urged to claim vouchers worth up to £3,000 to quicken their broadband and improve their all-round service.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is funding Super Connected Coventry as part of its nationwide Super Connected Cities and Superfast Britain initiatives.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has backed the vouchers scheme which provides financial support towards improving high-speed connectivity within the Coventry City Council area.

Vouchers to cover the costs of connection between £250 and £3,000 will be paid directly to suppliers to cover charges such as the Ethernet, a leased line or wireless services with businesses paying the VAT which is more than the value of the vouchers as well as the on-going subscription to the service provider.

As well as SMEs, social enterprises or third-party organisations whose trading addresses are within Coventry City Council’s boundary, agents or landlords can also apply as long as tenants complete the forms.

Councillor Lynnette Kelly, Coventry City Council Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Employment and LEP board director, said this was an extremely worthwhile and important scheme in improving slow broadband or helping those who have an unsuitable broadband service.

“It can be extremely frustrating for companies when their day-to-day business is delayed because of a slow broadband service,” she said.

“Super Connected Coventry is designed to boost connectivity by improving communication with customers and staff, reducing costs because work is carried out more efficiently, improving data storage and accessibility, introducing higher speeds for uploading and downloading for larger files and improving service reliability.

“All this means Super Connected Coventry will help to boost the economic output in Coventry which is one of the aims of the LEP because it will enable more members of the business community to take advantage of the benefits of carrying out work online.

“This will not only help internet-based businesses but all companies improve their service whatever sector they are involved in and I would encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for the vouchers.”

To find out about the eligibility criteria and for further information on how to apply, before March 31, 2015, visit www.coventry.gov.uk/broadband or email [email protected].

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