UK IT Association (UKITA)

• Next Generation Broadband Internet Access is coming to rural Herefordshire
• Will you know how to get maximum BUSINESS BENEFIT from accessing this enhanced bandwidth?
• These FREE local events will help you understand the opportunities and access half a day of free 1-to-1 business consultancy

Rural areas of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire are in the process of being allocated large scale capital investment for the provision of next generation access broadband infrastructure from BDUK. This will ensure that rural areas to the west of the West Midlands have access to high capacity superfast broadband and do not fall behind city-based businesses for lack of this facility.

The Marches ORB (Optimising Rural Broadband) project aims to complement the infrastructure investment with a programme of support to encourage businesses in exploiting and utilising the opportunities the new technology will offer. A recent study concluded that a significant number of businesses in the rural counties currently only use basic applications and this is directly attributable in many cases to a lack of understanding and knowledge. It is necessary to support these businesses to embed leading technology and new ways of working by helping them to make an informed choice on whether or not to upgrade to the new service when it becomes available. Questions around bandwidth requirements, upload and download speeds, contention rates etc will need to be answered before businesses can make an informed choice.

The ORB project will overcome this knowledge gap by delivering a range of awarenesss-raising activities throughout the region. Partnering with UKITA, a programme of events will be delivered in spring 2012, helping to raise awareness and encourage participation in higher-value-added activity.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• For Herefordshire rural businesses:
  
  
  
  • Attend one of our 7 free information events around Herefordshire and find out how Next Generation Access might catapult your business on to the UK and world stage
    
    
  • Apply to be one of our pilot study beneficiary businesses and get a half-day one-on-one advice session and mini-report with no sales process involved
• For Herefordshire IT specialists and business advisors
  
  • Put yourself forward to be part of the project-delivery team for any follow-up roll-out project
    
    
  • Find out more about NGA options for your own clients
    
    
  • Contact the team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via 0800 862 0333
    

WHAT NEXT?

• We welcome enquiries and requests for further information:
  
  
• Contact the UK IT Association ORB project team at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via 0800 862 0333

In partnership with Herefordshire County Council