Small businesses will be able to benefit from a £100m pot of money to connect them to better quality, high speed broadband.
The broadband connection voucher scheme will allow businesses to apply for grants of up to £3,000 to install faster broadband. The scheme is part of a wider ‘Superfast Britain’ programme, which aims to enable 88% of the country to have access to superfast broadband by December 2015.
Prime minister, David Cameron, said: ‘Up to £3,000 of broadband vouchers for small business in these cities is not only a massive boost for growth in the UK, but also has the potential to bring China to Cardiff, Brazil to Bristol and the Emirates to Edinburgh in an increased export market.
‘As part of our economic plan, I want to give our small businesses every possible advantage to compete in the global race – and also the flexibility to locate or set up right across the UK.’
The eligible cities Belfast, Salford, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Derby, Bristol, Edinburgh, Newport, London and Manchester. The scheme will also be extended to 12 other cities in early 2014.
