The ‘High Speed Connect’ fund, which is now open to applications, will help businesses who are struggling with slow or even no internet connection to take advantage of new tech and deliver better services for their customers.
Funding is available for up to 175 organisations, with Black Asian and Multi-ethnic, female and disability-led businesses in Lambeth being encouraged to apply.
Cllr Matthew Bennett, Cabinet Member for Planning, Investment & New Homes, said: “The range of online services available to help both run and grow small and medium sized business is huge.
“We want our borough’s businesses to be able to access this advantage as we recover from the Covid-19 crisis.
“Getting online has never been more important, so I would encourage local business people with slow internet connections to find out more about how they can access this new support.”
Research by OFCOM and others has shown high-speed internet access leads to growth in the local economy, creating more jobs and opportunities for local people.
The fund is open to businesses whose internet connection is currently under 30Mbps. Providers who are commissioned to install the new cables must already provide at least 30Mbps broadband speed, with the potential for reaching 1Gbps in the future.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- be a small to medium-sized enterprise (employing less than 250 employees)
- be a registered organisation/business based in Lambeth
- have at least one year of verified accounts
- pay all employees the London Living Wage
- have your current connectivity below 30Mbps and unable to upgrade without a significant connection charge being incurred
- place an order with an approved Network Provider within 28 days when a request for funding support is approved by Lambeth Council – after this time, the offer of funding is withdrawn by Lambeth Council
To find out more and apply please visit the Lambeth website.
