Latest news with #ProjectGigabit
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Broadband firm brings tech support home from South Africa
EAST Yorkshire broadband company Quickline Communications, which serves settlements across York and North Yorkshire, has brought its technical support operations in-house. A newly formed, 15-strong team of first-line support agents is now based at Quickline's East Yorkshire headquarters west of Hull, replacing a former outsourcing deal with a firm in South Africa. Quickline says the change is the latest in a series of strategic moves to further enhance its customer experience, following the launch earlier this year of its Customer Excellence Hub and the appointment of Frank Stone as Chief Marketing and Information Officer. Quickline CEO, Sean Royce, said: 'This is a big moment for Quickline and for our customers. RECOMMENDED READING: York: Quickline revise village broadband installation plan Quickline wins more Project Gigabit work in North Yorkshire Quickline to bring 'Broadband for £1' to rural communities Quickline helps 6,000 homes in Project Gigabit rollout "Having a locally based technical support team means when our customers need help, they're talking to someone who understands their community, not just the technology. "We're proud to be employing more people here in Yorkshire, right in the heart of where we deliver our broadband services. It's all part of our promise to offer a uniquely northern, truly local service that goes beyond just connectivity.' The in-house team will sit alongside Quickline's Customer Service and Sales teams, under a new structure led by Michelle Simpson. Michelle has been appointed as Director of Sales and Service Operations, a brand-new role that brings all core customer-facing teams together to help deliver a seamless, end-to-end experience for customers. Michelle, who has been with Quickline for three years as Head of Sales, brings deep industry knowledge and leadership experience having held senior positions in sales, customer services and technical support during a nine-year career at KCOM. She said: 'I'm excited to take on this new role, uniting many of our customer-facing teams to ensure a truly seamless and personal experience at every touchpoint. "We are absolutely committed to keeping our customers front and centre of everything we do, and I'll be driving that focus forward across the business.' Sean added: 'Michelle's leadership, energy and deep understanding of our customers and the region in which we operate, will be crucial as we continue to deliver on our customer first commitment.' Quickline says it's customer-first approach is central to its mission to connect rural communities to fast, reliable broadband, enabling them to access the digital services they need to thrive.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cumbria Chamber urges Government to back business growth in spending review
Fresh calls have been made for the Government to prioritise business growth ahead. Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has joined the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and chambers across the UK to urge the Government to put business growth at the centre of its spending plans. The call comes ahead of Wednesday's Comprehensive Spending Review, which will set out the Government's budget priorities. Suzanne Caldwell, managing director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: "Wednesday's Comprehensive Spending Review will impact the future shape of our economy for years. "So the Government can't afford to get this wrong. "At the end of the day it's businesses that create wealth and growth in our economy. "So fundamentally the Government needs to put more time, money and effort into supporting business. "That's a downpayment on our future prosperity." The chambers have outlined a series of recommendations under three themes: Get Britain Thriving, Get Britain Working, and Get Britain Trading. These calls focus on improved investment in infrastructure, people, and international trade. Recommendations include funding for transport and energy projects, better grid connectivity, long-term support for Project Gigabit, and practical help for SMEs to adopt artificial intelligence (AI). When it comes to getting Britain working, the chambers want more Apprenticeship Levy funding redirected to the Department for Education to boost training, and a broader Youth Guarantee for 18- to 24-year-olds. The chambers want more employers to be involved in skills planning by extending investment in Local Skills Improvement Plans and addressing gaps in training provision. On trade, the chambers are calling for investment in 'digital trade', better export support for SMEs, and a stronger pipeline of overseas investment. The recommendations were developed through consultation between the 51 chambers across the UK, the BCC, and the BCC's Business Council. They are also backed by research from the BCC's Insights Unit, which gathered feedback from more than 5,000 businesses on the biggest barriers to growth. Ms Caldwell said: "If the Government wants strong and consistent economic growth, it has to look at three key areas. "It must promote consistent investment in people, in infrastructure and in trade. "If it provides the support businesses need to thrive, in an increasingly competitive and protectionist global market, then the future can still be bright."
Pembrokeshire Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Gigabit-capable broadband coverage continues to rise in Pembrokeshire
THE ROLLOUT of gigabit-capable broadband in Pembrokeshire is progressing at an impressive pace, supported by the Swansea Bay City Deal's Digital Infrastructure Programme. Recent data highlights significant year-on-year growth in broadband coverage, reflecting the success of this initiative and its role in enhancing digital connectivity across the region. Coverage in the county has grown substantially. At the end of March 2021, only 7.6% of Pembrokeshire residents and businesses had access to gigabit-capable broadband. By the end of March 2024, this figure had reached 48.2%, and as of March 2025, it has risen again to 65.1%, demonstrating the program's momentum (Source: ThinkBroadband). The rollout has been bolstered by successful projects funded through the UK government's Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, ensuring that residents and businesses in more remote areas can access high-speed internet. Key to the success of the rollout in Pembrokeshire has been the collaboration of two Digital Champions, who have worked closely with Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC). These partnerships have been instrumental in scheduling civil engineering works around the county's bustling tourist economy and existing infrastructure projects, reducing disruption to residents and businesses. Additionally, a wide range of suppliers are actively contributing to the project. Companies like Openreach, Ogi, Voneus, and the local business Dragon WiFi have all played vital roles in expanding broadband access across the county. To further boost coverage, Openreach is delivering a £289 million contract as part of the UK government's Project Gigabit. This initiative will connect around 131,000 homes and businesses in some of the most remote areas of South Wales to reliable, high-speed broadband. The benefits of this expanded connectivity are significant, from better access to online services and improved opportunities for remote work and education, to supporting Pembrokeshire's growing local economy. Cllr Paul Miller commented, 'The progress we're seeing is a result of strong teamwork between the council, our partners, and the local community. We are committed to ensuring that everyone in Pembrokeshire benefits from fast, reliable internet access.' Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council and Chair of the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Committee, said: 'Year-on-year increases in gigabit-capable broadband coverage in Pembrokeshire are a tremendous achievement. This collaboration plays a crucial role in boosting the local economy, opening up opportunities, and ensuring that everyone, whether they live, work, or visit here, can benefit from better connectivity.'
Business News Wales
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Contract Awarded for Swansea Bay City Deal's £10m Better Broadband Infill Project
Swansea Bay City Deal's Digital Infrastructure Programme has announced that BT in partnership with Openreach has successfully been awarded the delivery contract for the Better Broadband Infill Project. The £10 million project will bring full fibre broadband to 1,533 premises and an additional 256 sites across the four counties in the Swansea Bay City Region – Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire. This project specifically targets premises that currently have broadband speeds of less than 30Mbps and who are not in scope for any existing government interventions such as Project Gigabit or part of commercial build plans. The homes and businesses included are predominantly in harder to reach, rural areas where the cost to provide faster broadband services is considerably higher. Cllr. Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council and Chair of the Swansea Bay City Deal Joint Committee, said: 'This project is a game-changer for our region. By bringing high-speed internet to areas that have been left behind, we are not only improving quality of life but also opening up new opportunities for economic and social development. Access to reliable broadband is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. This project will ensure that everyone in the Swansea Bay region can participate fully in the digital age.' Susi Marston, Head of Public Sector Wales at BT, said: 'Connectivity is at the heart of how people live and work today but all of that relies on the right infrastructure being in place. 'The Better Broadband Infill Project will improve services for thousands of people across the Swansea Bay City Region who will benefit from state-of-the-art connectivity even in hard-to-reach areas.'The Better Broadband Infill Project is set to start this month and will continue its delivery across the region over six phases, with the first 220 premises connected by December this year and a completion date of March 31st 2027.'
South Wales Guardian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Call for faster progress on rural broadband in Caerfyrddin
Ann Davies, MP for Caerfyrddin, met with Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), to discuss rural broadband and mobile coverage earlier this month. The meeting, held in Westminster, was also attended by senior officials from DSIT and Building Digital UK (BDUK). These are the executive agencies delivering the government's major digital infrastructure programmes, including Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network. Project Gigabit aims to provide gigabit-capable broadband to hard-to-reach areas, while the Shared Rural Network is designed to improve 4G mobile coverage in rural and remote communities. Around 3 per cent of the Caerfyrddin constituency remains in 'not spot' areas where no broadband is currently available. Ms Davies said: "Reliable broadband and mobile coverage are not luxuries — they are essential services that rural communities rely on to live, work, and thrive. "Whether it's running a farm, studying from home, or accessing vital healthcare, people in Caerfyrddin must not be left behind." "I will continue working to ensure that the voices and concerns of our rural communities are heard loud and clear in Westminster." She remains in regular contact with Openreach, who keep her updated on local infrastructure progress, and she frequently meets with Carmarthenshire County Council's broadband development officer to ensure residents' concerns are heard and acted upon.
