MORE than 3,300 small and medium businesses across the Cotswolds will soon be eligible for a non-repayable government grant to pay for communication speeds which exceed 30 Mbps.

Working in partnership with Gloucester City Council, Cotswold District Council has just received clearance to extend the BDUK broadband voucher scheme to a wide range of postcodes that will encompass at least 3,300 business premises in Cotswold District. This means that the companies can each obtain a grant worth up to £3,000 towards connection and construction charges for technologies that can deliver broadband - with the exception of satellite communications.

The news has been hailed as a great technological breakthrough by the Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Partnerships, Cllr Chris Hancock:

He said: “Our local businesses do a great job but there is no doubt that many have been hindered by very slow broadband speeds and ‘dead zones’ across many parts of the district, and there is now this great opportunity for thousands of traders to overcome these problems at no extra cost to them. In fact, realistically, the number of business potentially impacted is larger as our estimates are based on our business rates database and excludes micro businesses working from home.

“In the best of all possible worlds, some of our local traders could take maximum advantage of this development through a course of free internet training from experts at Google should they do well in the forthcoming Great British High Street awards.”

To apply, enter your business postcode at www.connectionvouchers.co.uk and if eligible, follow the options and select a registered supplier.

For more details go to www.gloucester.gov.uk/grants.