Superfast broadband in Beverley

Businesses across Beverley are set to benefit from investment in superfast broadband.

Broadband East Riding will bring superfast fibre broadband - delivering speeds exceeding 24Mbps - to more than 42,000 homes and businesses in the East Riding of Yorkshire by December 2015. In addition, the project aims to ensure the whole county will have access to broadband speeds of 2Mbps or more. This will take into account the commercial roll-outs of communication providers with networks in the area.

The £14 million programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with a grant of £4.4m, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and BT.

To complement the roll-out the Broadband East Riding project has developed a business support programme, which helps eligible businesses to learn about and exploit the opportunities that digital technologies and high-speed broadband can offer.

The programme includes the expertise and guidance of a dedicated business adviser providing one-to-one advice, combined with an external IT diagnostic report highlighting strengths, weaknesses and an action plan to take forward. Various workshops and training courses are also been provided that cover a range of topics devised to get the most out of being connected and to assist with business growth.

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, investment and inequalities, said: “Having access to the internet is an important aspect of modern life with many of us using it on a daily basis to keep in contact with family and friends or commercially, with many businesses requiring a secure, reliable and faster connection in order to compete and trade.

“The Broadband East Riding business support scheme will help eligible businesses get the most out of modern technology and embrace the opportunities presented by high-speed broadband.”