All county businesses are now eligible to apply for the broadband connection voucher scheme which is already on offer in the city and parts of the county.  

Gaining faster broadband connectivity can help businesses to save time, money, increase productivity and provide a greater service for their customer base. 

Karl Nicolson, director of Spectrum Printing, in Hamilton, said: "Before we had superfast broadband we were managing on 2mbps download and 200kbps upload. These extremely slow speeds were stopping us from moving forward in a digital capacity. 

"Having to make regular trips in vehicles was actually costing us time and money, taking and picking up proofs and digital artwork from customers when emailing them, was sometimes virtually impossible. 

"Now we do not have that to do, the time and money saved will enable us to explore services previously not available to us, such as online webinar services, helping our sales team to present over the web rather than face to face, saving travel time and petrol costs."

Businesses can apply for up to £3k of grant funding for the increased infrastructure. However there is limited time to access this funding as 50 per cent of the funding pot has already been allocated and businesses are being urged to apply or miss the chance to secure finance to improve their business efficiency.

“I am extremely pleased that the Broadband Voucher Scheme has been extended to include all of the county businesses as this will clearly help with their business technologies and enabling them to compete locally and nationally with improved broadband connections” 

Leicester City Council project manager Sukhi Basra added: " The scheme was only launched in April 2015 and since them we have so far supported 198 businesses across Leicester. This clearly demonstrates the need from businesses to increase their productivity in this digital age.”

To find out more visit the following website www.connectionvouchers.co.uk )emaildigitalleicester@leicester.gov.uk

Contacts for media:

Bespoke technology package - Laminate fabrications – FTTC connection (144 West Avenue, LE18 2FB, county) -Mr Carl Buck, carl@laminatefabrications.co.uk, 01162884897

PRP Pre registered package - Supadupa Entertainment – Leased Line (Suite 112, Imperial House, St Nicholas Cir, LE14LF) Bob Badan, B_badan@yahoo.co.uk, 07740868673

Bespoke – ISF Paints – Microwave (350, Thurmaston Boulevard, LE4 9HS), Steve Bridgewood,steve@isf.co.uk, 0116 274 2222

Bespoke – Spectrum printing  - Microwave (101, Waterside Rd, LE5 1TL)Karl Nicolson,karl@spectrumprinting.co.uk, 01162461717