SMALL businesses are being reminded to apply for grants of £3,000 for upgrading to faster broadband.

Dorset Growth Hub toured industrial estates in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Ferndown with a Digital Van promoting the government-backed Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme.

The scheme provides grants of up to £3,000 to cover the capital and equipment costs of upgrading a broadband connection.

The government says more than three million homes and businesses have been reached by the nationwide rollout of superfast broadband. More than 55,000 households and businesses have access to high speed broadband for the first time in rural Dorset, according to the county council.

Dugald Lockhart, Superfast Dorset project lead, said: “Since the growth plan launch events in March, we are now offering this connection voucher scheme which allows businesses with a maximum of 250 employees to receive up to £3,000 in grants towards their broadband.

“I urge people to look at the website to check their eligibility. Businesses could benefit by growing and accessing new markets, increase productivity through faster upload and download speeds, use online storage which reduces software and hardware costs, and future-proof the needs of their businesses.

“With more than 70 per cent of businesses in the region relying on the internet to operate, the scheme is essential to the future prosperity of the area.”

Vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the £40m national funding pot runs out.

Susanne Barrett, owner of the cards shop Traditions in Christchurch, is among those who have benefited.

She said a lack of connectivity at her shop had forced her to take paperwork home and made it difficult to manage her team effectively.

She said the new broadband connection had improved customer service and provided the opportunity to operate online.

“The offer was so good and I could not have afforded it without the voucher,” she said.

The tour was also promoting a free event which the Dorset Growth Hub are hosting in Bournemouth on Thursday 20th August a free event at which small businesses can find out more about the Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme.

It takes place on Thursday, August 20, at Bournemouth University Executive Business Centre and tickets can be booked via www.dorsetgrowthhub.co.uk/events

Dorset Growth Hub says the benefits of faster broadband can include access to new markets; cost savings, for example through better communication with suppliers; data backup in the cloud and increased security; and improved customer service through faster upload and download speeds.

Details are at dorsetforyou.com/connection-vouchers or by following @SuperfastDorset on Twitter.

For information and support with the application process, contact Dorset Growth Hub on 0345 4586480.