The companies applied together to the government’s connection voucher scheme. It provides funding of between £100-£3000 to pay for the installation of superfast broadband to offices in Cambridge and the wider economic area.
The companies are all based in the same business centre at Sheraton House, run by the national company Citibase. Through the new broadband connection, businesses will now have speeds of up to 50mbps upload and download.
Connection vouchers are administered locally by Connecting Cambridgeshire, a partnership of councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough delivering superfast broadband to the county.
Nathan Carpenter, Centre Manager of Citibase Cambridge encouraged his tenants to apply together for the funding and get faster broadband.
He said: “The new connection will help us attract new tenants and enable us to respond to existing clients more quickly and manage the building faster.”
“The application form was very straightforward and it was easy to get the customers to agree to the new connection”.
OE Cam is a management consultancy based in Citibase. Pam Wilson, Finance Director says: “All our IT software is based in the Cloud, so good broadband is absolutely essential. The new connection will save us time and improve our efficiency.”
“We currently use mobile phones to speak with clients, but through the new connection we may be able to use Voice over IP (VoIP). This technology is cheaper and more reliable than mobiles.
Businesses and charities in Cambridge and the wider economic area are being urged to apply for funding as the current scheme is being extended beyond March 2015, but is on a first-come first-served basis.
Pam commented: “I can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t apply for a connection voucher. Everyone is so reliant on broadband these days. I found the application process very simple and Citibase helped coordinate things.
Further information about connection vouchers is available through Connecting Cambridgeshire’s Destination Digital website: www.destinationdigital.info/vouchers
Image: Nathan Carpenter, Centre Manager and Sue Menzies, Reception Manager at Citibase Cambridge, where 25 businesses have got superfast broadband using Government connection vouchers
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For more information, please contact Livia Oldland at Connecting Cambridgeshire’s Destination Digital business support scheme.
Tel: 01223 706322
Email: livia.oldland@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Twitter: @LiviaOldland
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