Better Broadband for Birmingham Businesses
At Midland Networks, we are on a mission to improve business broadband across Birmingham and the surrounding areas. And, with the government connection vouchers scheme, there has never been a better time to upgrade your broadband. We are connecting more local businesses than ever before with faster, better broadband that enables them to dramatically increase efficiency.
The connection vouchers scheme is a grant initiative from the UK government to improve business broadband services nationwide. The scheme is part of the SuperConnected cities programme, which is managed by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), a unit within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The scheme is designed to stimulate the market, increase productivity and ultimately boost the economy. The good news for your business is that you can benefit from a grant of up to £3000 for a faster, improved broadband connection.
Whether you need a new or upgraded internet connection, the connection vouchers grant can be used towards the cost of equipment and installation. The scheme is specifically designed for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and there are a few criteria that you have to meet. Firstly, there are fifty participating cities and your business must be in an eligible area. You can check eligibility on the connection vouchers website, but if your business is based in Birmingham then you are eligible to apply and can do so via our website.
Secondly, you must be an SME, sole trader, registered charity or social enterprise and the cost of your broadband installation must exceed £100. Your broadband connection must be for your business premises and you are required to sign up for a minimum of a 6 month contract with your provider. Also, you are unable to apply if you have already received more than 200,000 Euros in grants in the past 3 years.
Finally, your selected broadband service must deliver a speed or performance that is an improvement on your current connection. This is known as a ‘step change’ which must meet certain conditions. A new NGA (next-generation access) connection must offer a minimum of 30Mbits. If your existing NGA service already offers this then the upgraded connection must deliver at least twice the current speed. A business grade connection must offer a minimum of 20Mbits with the capacity for configuring or upgrading to support a minimum of 30Mbits. The new connection must offer at least twice the speed of your current business grade connection. However, if you are transferring from NGA to a business grade connection, then this requirement will not apply.
An improved broadband connection can bring numerous benefits to your business. With higher speeds, your staff and customers will enjoy faster communication and file sharing. This allows workers to be much more efficient and productive, which ultimately results in cost savings and increased revenue. A better broadband connection enables you to future-proof your business and take advantage of the latest technologies. For example, a fast and reliable broadband connection can allow you to take advantage of IP telephony, which brings many business benefits of its own. You can also take advantage of cloud-based information sharing and online video calling. These technologies can transform the way you operate and help to reduce costs.
At Midland Networks, we offer a range of business broadband packages and have something to suit the needs of all businesses. Whether you want standard business broadband, EFM, fibre broadband or a leased line, we have the perfect solution. As a registered supplier of the connection vouchers scheme, businesses in Birmingham can apply for a grant towards the cost of their broadband via our website.