DIGITAL GROWTH DIGITAL GROWTH


As the leading provider of digital support in the East Midlands, the Chamber offers workshops, funding advice and consultancy on all aspects of ICT and technology to improve business performance


Get connected with broadband


A fast and reliable broadband service is as important as good road and rail links for businesses today. It's vital that businesses


across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire − including those in rural locations − are at least on a level playing field with other areas of the UK. According to the


independent www.thinkbroadband.com, superfast broadband is now available to around 96% of properties in Nottinghamshire, making it the best connected county in the Midlands and in the top three areas in the UK for digital connectivity. When the second phase is


completed in 2018, the Better Broadband for Nottingham programme will ensure superfast broadband will be available to more than 98% of homes and businesses in Nottinghamshire. David Ralph, Chief Executive


of the D2N2 Local enterprise Partnership, which is investing £2.63m in the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire scheme, said: “It’s a core priority for D2N2 to widen access to faster, fibre-optic broadband across its area. “D2N2 has agreed to invest


£4.8m into BBfN and its equivalent in Derbyshire, ‘Digital Derbyshire’, from its current £192m Local Growth Fund allocation.” To date, fibre-optic


broadband has been rolled out to 98,000 homes and businesses in Derbyshire, amounting to 535 miles of fibre optic cables being laid. In Leicestershire, the


Superfast Leicestershire programme is working to ensure that 96% of all homes and businesses have access to fibre broadband by the end of this year.


To discuss broadband or any aspect of digital growth, contact the Chamber on 0333 320 0333 or email enquiries@ebusinessclub.biz


50 business network April 2017


Grant funding boosts technology solutions


Are you looking to invest in technology solutions for your business? If so, grant funding could be for you. Digital grant funding supports businesses in


exploiting their existing technology solutions or with the introduction of new systems and software to assist with the implementation of new digital resources, in order to improve business performance and productivity. The scheme forms part of the Digital Growth


Programme, which starts this month before concluding in June 2019. It will provide support and advice to SMEs in various locations across the region through dedicated digital skills advisers, who will assess the needs and requirements of businesses on a bespoke basis in order to identify digital workforce development needs. Funded through the European Regional


Development Fund (ERDF), the grant funding scheme operates over two stages – an online expression of interest followed by a full application process. Projects will be invited to the full application stage if they pass compliance and basic eligibility checks. Grants are available between £2,000 (minimum) and


£16,000 (maximum) or 40% of the total project cost (excluding VAT) – whichever is lesser. While other criteria exists as far as eligibility for


grant funding is concerned, applicants must as a minimum: • Be located within, or be locating to, the administrative areas of Derby, Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Nottingham or Nottinghamshire (this must be the business's main trading address)


• Employ less than 250 FTE employees and have either a turnover less than €50m or a balance sheet of less than €43m at the time of full application.


Applicants must also demonstrate that their project contributes and positively impacts on at least one of the following: • The project will enable the business to save significant time and resources in the future, allowing more time to focus on economic and job growth


• Without the project being implemented the business will be unable to take on further growth


• The project will enable the business to access new markets not currently accessible to them


• The project will enable the business to diversify in order to support economic and job growth


• The project will support significant investment in new IT systems


• The project will enable the business to offer new services that add significant value to the current offering


The grant cannot support businesses in the following sectors: • Banking and Insurance • Retail (where 20% or more of turnover derives from sales to the general public)


• Private Schools • Fisheries and Agriculture • Coal • Steel and Ship Building sectors


In order to register your interest in grant funding, the applying organisation must first be assessed on its ability to apply under national ERDF eligibility rules.


To register interest in grant funding and the wider Digital Growth Programme, visit www.ebusinessclub.biz


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