Birmingham business to get better connected
Birmingham businesses are set to be given an extra boost with financial support to help them access high-speed broadband services, enabling them to compete with the world's best.
If approved by Birmingham City Council cabinet on November 18th, the £6.75m Birmingham Connectivity Voucher Scheme will offer a subsidy towards the cost of connection to high-speed services for more than 2000 small and medium businesses in key economic zones in the city.
The programme will be delivered over a 15 month period and will start in January 2014. It will be managed by the city council's Digital Birmingham team. The first phase will concentrate on key growth sectors before being expanded to meet growing demand across the city later in the year.
The scheme forms part of the Government's Urban Broadband Fund which is designed to create super-connected cities across the country. Birmingham's successful bid will attract brand new private investment from new and existing telecommunications providers to areas such as Birmingham's Enterprise Zone and will see the city taking another major step forward on the road to becoming a Smart City.
Councillor James McKay, cabinet member for a green, safe and smart city said: “This is excellent news for the city. Digital connectivity is vital to help businesses achieve sustainable growth in the city, supporting jobs and prosperity for businesses and residents. It will also be a real signal to potential investors that Birmingham is a great place to do business.”
For more information on the scheme contact Digital Birmingham, email admin@birminghamnewsroom.com
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