Wales Commits GBP12.5m to Help Businesses Get More Out of Broadband

The Welsh Government has today committed another £12.5 million to help businesses across Wales take advantage of superfast broadband, which is currently being deployed across the country.

The new scheme, which will primarily help small and medium sized businesses to understand, adopt and exploit the superfast infrastructure, is being funded by the Welsh Government, local authorities and £7m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Main features of the programme:

* Direct business support and advice through Business Wales. Superfast business workshops, clinics and one-to-one sessions at a local level

* Research and intelligence, including the tracking and of adoption and exploitation of superfast broadband by businesses and providing insight into emerging technologies to ensure new opportunities are included.

* Training and accreditation for business advisors who are delivering support on the ground.

* Champions for each local authority who will help lead engagement with their authority and local business community.

The fund forms part of the wider state aid fuelled Superfast Cymru project, which is currently working with BT to make “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) connectivity available to 96% of Wales by the end of 2016 and then another 42,000 homes and businesses will also benefit by June 2017.

Julie James, Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, said:

“We are making tremendous progress in bringing superfast broadband across Wales. To reap the maximum economic benefit from this investment it is simply not enough for businesses to take-up superfast broadband. To take full advantage of the superfast enabled technologies businesses need to use them to change and improve the way they work.

It is not just about doing things quicker, it is about doing things smarter. The £12.5m project I am announcing today will help businesses do just that, ensuring they make the most of what superfast broadband can offer.”

End.