SMALLbusinesses, charities and community groups in Tewkesbury Borough are being given the chance to apply for grants of up to £3000 as part of a government scheme to speed up access to superfast broadband.

The Superfast Britain initiative is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It has already been rolled out in 22 cities and has now been extended to a further 28 areas. Gloucester City Council is one of the new locations and under the new guidelines it is able to partner with Stroud District Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council to support a number of postcodes in these areas.

Companies and organisations in parts of these districts will be eligible to apply for vouchers to cover connection costs of between £100 and £3,000.

Speaking of the scheme, Tewkesbury Borough Council’s Economic and Community Development Manager Andy Sanders said: “We are very pleased to be able to work in partnership with Gloucester City Council to make this funding available to our businesses.

“A high speed broadband connection can transform businesses, boosting productivity and innovation, enhancing communication and connections all of which ultimately lead to growth. This is great news for our area.”

The scheme will help businesses, charities and voluntary organisations in eligible parts of Tewkesbury Borough which struggle with inadequate broadband provision in their offices. The grant will pay towards the installation of a superfast system, to improve connectivity, reduce downtime, increase speed and help improve staff productivity. It can also fund connection at home if this is the main place of work.

Businesses and organisations interested in finding out more can check if their postcode is eligible on the Connection Voucher website www.connectionvouchers.co.uk.

The closing date for applications is 31 March 2016.