Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme Impact and Benefits Study
This study outlines the impact of the Connection Voucher Scheme on businesses across the UK.
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The Connection Voucher Scheme ran from March 2014 to March 2016 as part of the Super Connected Cities Programme. During that time it helped many thousand businesses and third sector organisations reap the benefits of an improved broadband connection by subsidising the upfront capital costs of getting a connection to their premises. It placed the grant directly in the hands of the small business, avoiding centralised procurements and letting businesses choose the solution that worked best for them. In April 2015, due to its success, the scheme expanded to 50 cities and their surrounding areas, with £40m of challenge funding.
The Impact and Benefits report summarises how the Connection Voucher Scheme made a big difference to thousands of small businesses. The scheme revealed demand previously not met by the market by allowing groups of organisations to pool their vouchers and it encouraged competition and consumer choice by supporting several hundred suppliers including many smaller suppliers. More than 40,000 small and medium sized businesses received a faster connection as a direct result of the scheme. The study examines the benefits and impacts of those faster connections on key issues such as turnover and employment.