Connectivity+ Vouchers
Please be aware, as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been inundated with registrations from businesses wishing to access our assistance. As a consequence we may not be able to update you on your registration until September. We would ask you to be patient until we are in a position to let you know if we can assist you.
Many firms that wish to grow and develop are inhibited by the quality of their digital connection, including poor broadband speeds and high costs for upgrading to a faster/more reliable service.
The Connectivity+ Voucher is designed to help businesses cover some of the costs of upgrading to a faster connection. Vouchers can also be used to cover other costs associated including:
- The actual cost of the installation i.e. the cost of the physical connection, including excess construction costs to reach a network
- Hardware related to facilitating the connection e.g. a firewall, router, receiver/antennae (for wireless connections)
- Virtual servers and software licences (subject to limitation of upfront costs only)
- Internal ethernet network cabling
- Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony
- Consultancy/project management cost to install a connection – capped at 25% of the value of a voucher
Connectivity+ Vouchers can also be used in certain circumstances to cover the cost (or partial cost) of a first year rental of a connectivity solution providing the first year is paid to the supplier in full at the start of the contract.
Connectivity+ Vouchers are intended to help businesses upgrade to higher speed business grade broadband, above 30 mbps. If your current download speed is above 30 mbps, then a new higher speed connection should double the broadband speed. For examples of how people have benefited from Connectivity and Growth vouchers take a look at some case studies or watch our latest video below…
Registration Process
To apply, check your eligibility and if eligible you will be taken to the registration form. Check your eligibility here.
If you are interested in applying for a Connectivity+ Voucher, please follow our the steps below:
- Visit the eligibility checker on our website to see if your business is eligible for Digital Enterprise assistance.
- If eligible complete the registration form on the Digital Enterprise website. Businesses are required to complete all sections of the registration form, with particular consideration to the impact of the funding/investment upon their business growth and development.
- We will assess your registration for business eligibility and consider which form of support we can offer (Digital Growth Voucher, Connectivity Voucher or Digital Knowledge Exchange).
- If eligible we will confirm which strands of support we can offer you.
- If you are offered a Connectivity+ Voucher you will need to obtain quotations for upgrading your broadband and associated costs (Two quotes required).
- On successful application we will send you a Funding Agreement.
- On receiving returned Funding Agreement you can commission your suppliers.
- Once the work has been completed and proof of this is supplied via a claim form we will arrange for the funding to be paid to you.
Up to 250 Connectivity+ Vouchers will be available to eligible SMEs up till the end of the programme (August 2022) and will be available on a first come first served basis.
