The UK government has launched a competition enabling UK conference centres to apply for funding to boost their onsite broadband infrastructure.
UK conference centres will be able to apply for a share of £250,000 (€273,065.28) in funding to improve their broadband capabilities, with the goal of attracting greater numbers of international conferences to the UK. The funds have been made available under the government’s Tourism Sector Deal, which aims to grow the tourist industry and promote the UK as a viable destination for businesses and holidaymakers.
Launching the competition for UK conference centres, Tourism Minister Rebecca Pow said: “We want the UK to attract the biggest and best international business events to help grow our economy and encourage trade and investment. Ensuring our conference facilities can deliver the connectivity and facilities organisers want and need is crucial to help achieve this and there is a great deal of scope to expand this area. Our Tourism Sector Deal is providing a broadband boost to the country’s business events industry, and I would encourage all eligible venues to apply.”
In order to be eligible to apply for the funding, UK conference centres must be able to hold at least 400 delegates and must either have hosted at least one international event in the last year, or intend to host at least one international event in the next year. Winning centres will be able to upgrade their broadband capacity to full fibre connectivity, improving data transfer speeds and supporting greater volumes of users.
Michael Hirst, Chair of the Events Industry Board, said: “The business events industry welcomes the UK government’s new £250,000 competition to improve broadband connectivity in event venues. This is a strong recognition of the importance of helping to support the growth of first class infrastructure in Britain’s large range of diverse world class business event facilities. It will help immensely in continuing to present Britain as a leading global destination for business events.”
