Government allocates up to £4m in additional funding for businesses to access broadband in Northumberland

Additional funding has been announced to help homes and businesses in Northumberland and Cumbria access better internet connectivity.

As part of the £394.5m Borderlands Growth Deal, up to £4m of additional government funding will ‘top up’ broadband vouchers.

This will mean that even more money is available to improve digital connectivity and boost the regional economy.

The government’s Gigabit Broadband Vouchers Scheme (GBVS) currently provides up to £3.5k funding for eligible businesses and up to £1.5k for eligible residential properties to install gigabit-capable connections.

The £4m made available will be used to match the level of funding available under the GBVS, so that eligible businesses can now apply for up to a maximum of £7k and eligible residential properties up to £3k.

Digital infrastructure minister, Matt Warman, commented: “We are bringing gigabit-capable broadband to rural areas so they can reap the economic and social benefits of faster connectivity.

“Our voucher scheme is directly helping residents and businesses in Cumbria and Northumberland and I welcome this boost in investment through the Borderlands Growth Deal.

“It will mean more funding for people struggling with slow speeds and is an important part of our plans to level up the country.”

Simon Clarke, minister of state for regional growth and local government, said: “This government remains committed to levelling up all parts of the country especially given the significant challenges communities have faced from the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s great to see another project which forms part of the multi-million pound Borderlands Growth Deal come to fruition.

“The £4m we’ve made available to the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme project will help people and businesses access faster internet which will in turn allow them to flourish in a modern, global job market and unlock the economic potential of the region.”

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