Stonehouse-based Eurolink become registered BDUK Government supplier for Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme

 Businesses in Bristol can obtain grants up to £3,000

Telecoms firm Eurolink Connect Ltd has successfully been listed as an official registered supplier for the Government BDUK Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme. The scheme offers grants of up to £3,000 to help small businesses across the UK install superfast broadband connection, and improve connectivity.

The Connection Voucher Scheme is part of a UK Government initiative to help SMEs, Charities, and Social Enterprises connect to better broadband speeds.  With more businesses becoming dependent on cloud services, the need for superfast internet is critical, however upfront costs can sometimes be prohibitive. To help out, a budget has been allocated by the Government to 22 city councils across the country providing financial support to businesses for the connection and construction charges. The scheme will be running from 7 December 2013 until the end of March 2015 and is managed by the Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Grants are available to businesses that qualify and are located in the following cities: London, Oxford, Brighton and Hove, Portsmouth, Bristol, Birmingham, Coventry, Cardiff, Newport, Aberdeen, Perth, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Bradford, Leeds, Cambridge, Derby, Manchester Salford and York.

Enterprise and Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said he was "delighted" the government has been able to demonstrate its commitment to supporting small business growth. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the British economy and responsible for nearly half the job creation in the UK," he stated. "That’s why we are removing barriers to growth and supporting them, so that they can create jobs and compete in the global race."

 Derek Maddox, Managing Director from Eurolink Connect Ltd said “we are honoured to be a registered supplier for the Government Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme, and are able to assist in all locations that qualify”.

 Can any business apply for funding?

Only businesses that are eligible for funding can apply. The BDUK Connection Voucher Scheme is administered by City Councils so may operate differently depending on each City Council’s policy. If businesses are looking to apply they should go directly to their council. They can see if they are eligible to apply for funding and use the handy postcode checker at www.connectionvouchers.co.uk

 Broadband Connection Vouchers are available to your business if:

  • You are a SME (Small or Medium Enterprise business) Charity or Social Enterprise Businesses employing between 1 and 249 staff with an annual turnover under £40 million.
  • You are located in a valid postcode area in one of the cities taking part in the scheme and it needs to be the registered office or trading address of the business.
  • You are asking for a connection to your business premises.  If your main work base is at home you can still apply for connection there, but not if you just work from home occasionally
  • Your connection will cost over £250
  • You are willing to sign up for a minimum 6 month contract with your supplier
  • You select a service that is capable of delivering 30Mbps or higher – there are some detailed requirements on speed that you should check before applying
  • You have not received more than approx £120k in grants in the last three years

 Are there any exceptions of who can apply?

Yes, as with all schemes, there are exemptions to the types of businesses that can apply, but please check with your individual council as these exceptions may differ from council to council.

If a customer is a tenant of a business park or a commercial property landlord, they must have the approval of their landlord to proceed with the work and they must not already have a fast broadband connection to their property (30Mb+)

There are also other rules like customers are exempt if they have already received public sector funding to improve the broadband connectivity of their property.  But all information can be found on the Department for Business Innovation and Skills website.

How do customers apply for the scheme?

Once the customer has checked they are eligible and read the full terms and conditions for their city, they should then complete the application form.  If they’re seen as eligible by their City Council, they will receive a provisional offer regarding the amount of funding they can expect.  The council will ask the business to obtain quotes from two providers to, and their preferred route. The preferred route doesn’t have to be the cheapest quote, but the one that suits the needs of their business best. Once their council has approved the quote, businesses can then progress with their chosen supplier directly.

If Eurolink is the chosen provider, they will order and install the service as usual. Once the install has occurred, Eurolink will issue a bill to the customer who will be responsible for the bill overall. They then need to pass a copy of the bill immediately to their council to pay the upfront charges. The customer needs to pay the advance rental, any VAT and any install amount that exceeds the £3000. The business and the council will pay independently of each other, both paying their share to Eurolink.