'Poor uptake' of government fibre broadband schemes

A government grant of £3.1 million that was donated to enable businesses in Oxford to connect to superfast fibre broadband has experienced a significantly low uptake, with just two businesses applying for the funding.

The concept of the government scheme is that firms with fewer than 250 employees can apply for up to £3,000 each to go towards to cost of connecting to the high-speed technology.

Speaking to BBC News, Bob Bradley of the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce explained why so few people in the area have signed up for the superfast service. He said: "There aren't that many companies that are big enough to need this sort of speed."

However, it is not just Oxford where there has been a low uptake of the funding, as a similar scheme in Portsmouth has attracted only four interested parties in as many months. 

In addition to this, the Brighton-based project to deliver financial support to firms wanting to connect to fibre broadband has received just nine applications.

Businesses wishing to reap the benefits of a faster internet connection have until March next year to apply for a proportion of the government funding via Oxford City Council.