Connect Westminster Scheme

Your business must be an SME in a Westminster Scheme qualifying postcode.  Contact us to find out.

The following requirements must also be met:

• Employ fewer than 250 persons
• Annual turnover is below €50m
• Balance sheet is below €43m
• The business is not a subsidiary and/or under the control of a larger SME entity (25 threshold)
• Must comply with the European State Aid rules
• Must have received less than €200,000 in the current and two previous financial years in De Minimis aid
• New connection must meet the required step change

The Internet circuit supplied must provide the following in order to provide a step change in business grade performance:

• Offer a minimum of 30Mbs and be capable of being upgraded to support at least 1Gbs.
• Deliver at least a doubling of speed when compared to a current business grade connection being consumed e.g. Ethernet or Leased Line.
• If you are upgrading from a Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband connection e.g. Fibre broadband, FTTC or VDSL then the doubling of speed does not apply when upgrading to a business grade Ethernet or Leased Line connection.

The Voucher can be put towards the following qualifying costs up to a maximum of £2000:

• New circuit connection costs
• Router hardware
• Planning & survey costs
• Excess construction charges

• Contact Spitfire and request a quote for your business.
• Complete an application form and return it together with a copy of your quote to the Connect Westminster Project Team.
• The Voucher will then be issued to your business by the Connect Westminster Scheme.
• Place an order with Spitfire within 28 days from receipt of the Voucher.
• Once the circuit has been installed and invoice paid the Voucher may then be redeemed against it from the Connect Westminster Scheme.

• Only one Voucher can be awarded per business – maximum £2000.
• A business may use the Voucher towards costs associated with multiple eligible locations.
• Multiple businesses at the same location may combine voucher awards to cover eligible costs.
• The Voucher Scheme will run until 31st March 2019 or until the fund has been fully allocated if before this date.