Fibre breakfast boost for Bolton businesses
Free event highlights benefits of high-speed broadband
Fibre broadband is top of the menu at a business breakfast in Bolton tomorrow.
Get Digital Faster – the fibre broadband roll-out partnership spearheaded by BT and Bolton Council - is hosting a ‘Fibre for Breakfast’ event with the Business Growth Hub to showcase the benefits of the technology to local companies.
The free event will demonstrate how improved connectivity and digital technology can make businesses more competitive and efficient. It will take place on Wednesday March 18, from 8am until 10am at the Holiday Inn Bolton Centre.
High-speed fibre broadband is being rolled out across areas of Bolton as part of the £15 million Get Digital Faster programme. Through its programme of investment, Get Digital Faster will give businesses the opportunity to access faster and more reliable download and upload speeds in areas where connectivity has lagged behind.
Anyone interested in booking a place should log onto: www.bolton.gov.uk/fibreforbreakfast or email: businessbolton@bolton.gov.uk. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Fibre for Breakfast will highlight how increased connectivity will enable businesses to expand, develop and grow. It will also explain the range of support on offer to businesses and hear from local companies that have experienced growth as a result of embracing digital technology. Attendees will get the opportunity to network, meet the experts, and discover more about digital services and how they may be able to benefit including possible grant support to assist with connection.
Speakers include:
• Keith Davies, director of development and regeneration, Bolton Council about the importance of improving connectivity;
• Tony Morgan, BT’s contract director for the Get Digital Faster programme, on how enhanced connectivity has helped small businesses to grow;
• Rob Sethna, digital growth manager, Business Growth Hub who will outline the support, training and advice available to local businesses.
Councillor Ebrahim Adia, Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, said: “Get Digital Faster is still fairly new – it launched last July with several cabinets now live in Bolton, so we are already taking significant steps towards making Greater Manchester one of the world’s top 20 digital regions by 2020. Bolton itself is currently ranked highest in the UK for broadband speed by Ookla, the internet metrics company.
“I would encourage companies to book a place on the ‘Fibre for Breakfast’ event and discover how enhanced connectivity and digital technology could give Bolton businesses a real boost.”
Angela Hornby, BT’s marketing manager for Get Digital Faster, said: “High-speed broadband is vital for many small and medium businesses and this event will show firms in Bolton its real value. Businesses want to thrive and not just survive and this new fibre network will give many businesses the edge in a high competitive local economy.”
The £15 million Get Digital Faster partnership is being delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester and BT on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). The partnership will use public and private sector funds to bring high-speed broadband to 45,000 homes and businesses by March 2016 in areas outside of commercial roll-out plans. The European Development Fund North West has provided £4.9 million, BT has provided £4.6 million, and £3 million is from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). The local authorities (Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside and Wigan) have invested £2.5 million between them. To find out more about the programme visit the Get Digital Faster website at www.get-digital-faster.info.
Ends
About ERDF
The Get Digital Faster project is part financed by the North West European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit
https://www.gov.uk/erdf-programmes-and-resources#north-west
About BDUK
Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements:
• £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017
• £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
• £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services
Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.
For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
Ookla data
Data referenced from http://explorer.netindex.com/maps , accessed on February 24, 2015 (table accessed from “+VIEW DETAILED RANKINGS” button).
