Lancs fibre broadband scheme sponsors business awards

A public-private partnership designed to significantly boost fibre optic broadband coverage in Lancashire has agreed to become the headline sponsor of a local business award scheme.

Superfast Lancashire is backing the Be Inspired Business Awards (Bibas), which is being organised by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, reports the Lancashire Evening Post.

To decide on the winners, judges will be sent out to local firms, enabling them to gain an up-close look at the way they run from day to day.

Bibas judge Ellie Hamilton, Associate Dean for Enterprise at Lancaster University Management School, said an application form and a single interview are not enough to understand the way a business operates.

Superfast Lancashire is aiming to bring fibre broadband to 97 per cent of homes and businesses across the county by the end of 2015, with around 675,000 properties set to be connected once the project is completed.

The rollout is being carried out by BT, which has already brought the technology within reach of approximately 60 per cent of premises through its £2.5 billion commercial programme.