Local Businesses Can Apply For Broadband Grant


Part of the £150m Urban Broadband Fund

Local businesses can apply for a grant of up to £3,000 towards installing high-speed broadband.

Funding for the vouchers is part of a £150m Urban Broadband Fund (UBF) that aims to create up to twenty-two super-connected cities across the UK including Greater London.

Faster broadband brings benefits such as allowing more cloud storage to save memory space on hardware, sending and receiving electronic files, reliable video conferencing, speedy data transfers, and saving travel costs by allowing members of staff to work remotely.

Increased connectivity will also allow businesses to work in partnership to compete for bigger contracts, thereby increasing their chances in today’s competitive market. Businesses and end users must still pay monthly line rental, broadband service charges but the voucher provides the benefits of enabling the installation to take place.

Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: "High speed internet is crucial for businesses trying to expand and establish themselves and the chance to get help setting this up is one many businesses in Merton can benefit from. I urge all businesses to check if they qualify, and if they do, to apply as soon as they can so they can benefit from the extra funding."

To find out more and apply, businesses in London should visit www.london.gov.uk/broadband.

April 6, 2014