Peter Waters, centre, EDP Editor with two of the letter's signatories Robin Twigge, regional chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, and Caroline Williams, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce chief executive. Picture: Denise Bradley

Norfolk businesses make final plea on broadband

By VICTORIA LEGGETT
Thursday, April 14, 2011
11:00 AM

Business leaders representing more than 30,000 Norfolk employees have written a joint letter to the government urging it to award vital broadband funding to the county.

Who signed it?

Mark Hodges, Aviva UK; Mike Burrows, Shaping Norfolk’s Future; Peter Barry, Pasta Foods; Andy Wood, Adnams; Barry Dennis, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce; Caroline Williams, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce; Robin Twigge, Federation of Small Businesses; Mark Goodall, Aker Solutions; Clarke Willis, Anglian Farmers; Guy Gowing, Arnolds Chartered Surveyors; Noel Bartram, Bernard Matthews; Richard Tunnicliffe, CBI; Davina Tanner, Chapelfield Norwich; Dick Palmer, City College Norwich; David Pomfret, College of West Anglia; Nicola Currie, CLA; Jonathan Cage, Create Consulting Engineers; Euan Macpherson, Crisp Malting Group; Simon Goodman, The Florida Group; Robin Hall, The Forum Trust; Julia Howard, Great Yarmouth College; Dany Bahar, Group Lotus; Andy Fisher, ipatter; John Buckman, Jark; David Hill, Jarrold; Gordon Chetwood, Kinnerton; Russell Leggett, Lovewell Blake; Iain Mawson, M + A Partners; Philip Fellowes-Prynne, May Gurney Integrated Services; Mark Jeffries, Mills and Reeve; Richard Ellis, Norfolk Tourism; Andrew Bell, Norwich International airport; Peter Wilson, Norwich Theatre Royal; Mike Britch, NPS Property Consultants; Jo Pearson, Pearsons Capital Projects; John Sewell, Perenco UK; Neil Garner, Proxama; Chris Mace, SaxonAir Charter; Kevin Goodings, Service Tick; David Parish, System Three Business Solutions; Michael Gurney, The Point Advertising; Edward Acton, University of East Anglia; Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Virgin Money; Richard Bridgman, Warren Services.

The 44 signatories, who cover all sectors from finance and education to farming and retail, say they face a “common frustration” of slow speeds and unreliable connections.

Chris Starkie, chief executive of Shaping Norfolk’s Future, which drew up the letter, said the fact that so many leaders had signed it showed how important the issue was for the county.

He said: “The letter represents businesses and business organisations who are united in the their desire to see improved broadband. We think the single biggest barrier towards economic growth in Norfolk is the lack of high speed broadband. It’s absolutely critical for businesses to be competitive locally, nationally and internationally.”

The letter will be sent to Robert Sullivan from Broadband Delivery UK, the government body in charge of handing out a total of £530m over the course of this parliament, as part of Norfolk County Council’s multi-million pound bid for funding.

It will also be addressed to broadband minister Ed Vaizey and Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, media and sport.

In the letter, the business leaders say there is an “overwhelming business and social case” for Norfolk to be included in the first round of bidding for funding so it can compete for business, encouraging home-working, attract investment and recruit more staff.

They add: “Broadband is an economic enabler and it is vital that Norfolk does not become a digitally excluded county due to its lack of broadband.”

Last night Nicola Currie, regional director of the Country Land and Business Association, said she wanted to get behind the bid after encountering far too many rural businesses which were suffering because of poor broadband speeds.

She said: “The CLA has long been campaigning for the importance of broadband because it is so vital to rural businesses. It’s involved in everything from government compliance forms and marketing to security systems and banking. It’s the way technology is going if you want to grow a business.”

Another signatory, Edward Acton, the University of East Anglia’s vice- chancellor, said: “We are fully behind the county council’s bid to bring high speed broadband to Norfolk, which we see as vital if the county is to compete on a global stage.”

Mr Starkie said the letter represented all types of Norfolk businesses, all fighting for the same cause.

He added: “What we are asking for is not a hand out. What we are asking for is a lift up so that businesses in Norfolk are able to compete on a level playing field.”