News | Superfast West Yorkshire’s Broadband Business Support Programme

​West Yorkshire is set to see major additional investment (up to £24M) in its digital infrastructure over the next two years.

The Superfast West Yorkshire project will be targeted at both urban and rural areas across West Yorkshire, focusing on areas that would otherwise miss out on the commercial roll-out of superfast broadband by providers such as BT and Virgin.

Superfast West Yorkshire is a partnership between all 5 West Yorkshire local authorities and BT. Jointly funded by Broadband Delivery UK (part of Department of Culture, Media and Sport), European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), local authority cash and BT investments the initiative will ensure more businesses and residents get access to superfast broadband.

It was developed to ensure that the large scale investment in digital infrastructure acts as a catalyst to generate business growth in local SMEs.

Funded by ERDF and the West Yorkshire local authorities the programme will support over 1,000 SMEs in the following sectors:

• Creative & Digital Industries
• Advanced Engineering & Metals, including manufacturing companies
• Food and Drink
• Bioscience
• Chemicals
• Environmental Technologies
• Healthcare Technologies

The programme of business support is designed to provide advice and support to SMEs across a broad range of business activity:

• improving overall business performance
• increasing sales and profitability by enhancing marketing channels
• expanding capacity and productivity through automated processes
• enhancing communication with suppliers and customers by better website and social media use
• raising awareness and access to emerging digital technologies that directly aid business growth and development.

The programme has challenging targets:

• 1,000 businesses accessing new or improved broadband services
• 350 eligible SMEs assisted with 12 hours of intensive business support
• 600 businesses improving capability and performance
• 350 new jobs created
• £15.7m increase in productivity (Gross Value Added)

Currently a Business Support delivery partner is being procured to deliver this programme of comprehensive support for local firms. Delivery of the programme is scheduled to commence in December 2013 and to be completed by the summer of 2015 (approximately 18 months).

A variety of channels will be used to engage eligible SMEs across West Yorkshire including: business seminars, promotional events/road shows, conferences and also digital/social media avenues. The business support delivery partner will be working closely with the five local authorities and other local business partners to help ensure as many businesses as possible benefit from the programme.

For more information about the Superfast West Yorkshire project and specifically the West Yorkshire Broadband Business Support programme visit the website.

The site will have detailed news on progress of the roll-out of the infrastructure as well as news and events on the seminars for businesses.

If you have any queries about the business support programme email the team.

View the briefing note, providing key information about Superfast West Yorkshire local broadband programme.