Cheshire businesses to benefit from superfast broadband help

Businesses in Cheshire are set to benefit from £1.5 million of investment to help them make the most of the digital technology enabled by fibre optic broadband.

The scheme, named Connecting Cheshire Superfast Business, is expected to offer advice to more than 900 small and medium-sized enterprises across the county.

Delivered by Peninsula Enterprise and Groundwork Cheshire, the project is predicted to create over 475 jobs in the area over the next two years and deliver an economic boost of almost £19.5 million by helping businesses grow and improve their productivity.

BT was recently awarded a £28.5 million contract by Connecting Cheshire to increase superfast broadband coverage to 96 per cent of all local properties by 2016.

Sir Howard Bernstein, Vice Chair of the North West European Regional Development Fund local management committee, said: "This programme will help local businesses make the most of superfast broadband, improving performance and helping to create and safeguard jobs."