Member Article

Kick-start business support programme started by Council's Superfast West Yorkshire

Superfast West Yorkshire has launched a free business support programme designed specifically to help local businesses exploit the many competitive advantages that faster broadband provides.

To kick-start the programme, two successful briefing events took place last week in Bradford and Wakefield, with the aim of helping local firms understand the benefits of faster broadband on their overall business performance.

The comprehensive business support programme includes one to one advice, practical master classes on topics such as digital marketing, social media, websites and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), plus exclusive networking club opportunities.

Chair of Superfast West Yorkshire project board, Ian Gray, said: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of our business support programme. Our aim is to help the region’s businesses to grow, be better connected and more competitive.

“We’ll support them to get online, develop their internet skills, boost their websites and grab new business opportunities.

“We’ve invested in upgrading West Yorkshire’s broadband to keep our area ahead of the game and encourage new businesses to set up here.

“We encourage businesses to register for the support programme through our website so they can be part of this exciting new scheme.”

This new free support is part of the Superfast West Yorkshire project, a multimillion pound investment that plans to extend high-speed fibre broadband to 97% of households and businesses across the majority of West Yorkshire by the end of 2015.

As well as providing high speed fibre, the partnership aims to ensure all premises in this area have access to speeds of more than 2Mbps and that businesses and residents fully exploit the opportunities broadband can offer.

The funding for the whole Superfast West Yorkshire project comes from Leeds City Council, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Wakefield Council, Kirklees Council, Calderdale Council, BDUK, ERDF and BT who are all working together to bring fibre broadband to premises in West Yorkshire, which are not currently included in the private sector’s commercial roll-out plans and would otherwise have missed out on this opportunity.

Future events will be taking place in Huddersfield, Halifax and Leeds over the coming few months. Business owners, managers, key staff and decision makers are all welcome to attend the sessions to get to learn more about how superfast broadband can enhance their business.

Visit www.superfastwestyorkshire.co.uk/business and click on Business Support programme to learn more about the type of help available and a schedule of events and workshops taking place across West Yorkshire.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .