08.09.06
actnow announces its future vision to bring the benefits of
broadband to every business, man, woman and child in Cornwall
Cornwall Enterprise's actnow broadband
partnership has announced its vision for the future of Information
and Communications Technology (ICT) in Cornwall.
This includes increasing the accessibility and take up of
broadband still further so that 100% of businesses and people
– from schoolchildren to the elderly – are benefiting.
Despite Cornwall's deeply rural geography, the Objective
One actnow project has already spearheaded
the creation of a county in which broadband is available virtually
everywhere. Around half of local companies are now using the
high speed internet technology to help their businesses grow
and take up overall is well above the South West and national
average. Over 200,000 people in Cornwall are now using broadband
and as bandwidth speeds increase and new applications develop,
the future opportunities are immense.
As part of the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Economic
Forum, leading experts in Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) have been developing the future strategy for ICT in
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, culminating in actnow's
publication of the new vision document today.
actnow Project Director Nigel Ashcroft says:
"actnow has a compelling vision
for a future Cornwall which is transformed by ICT. We must
embrace the interest shown by companies such as Microsoft
and Cisco Systems and make sure our ICT strategy enables Cornwall
to become the 'silicon peninsula' of the UK.
"Cornwall can be the UK's leader in a brand
new way of working. We see a place where people want to live
and can work flexibly, thanks to a cutting edge communications
infrastructure. Traffic congestion will be reduced and better
use will be made of office space as companies need fewer desks
for people working from home and outside of normal office
hours. ICT can do all this – not only adding value to
business but making a big contribution to people's work-life
balance.
"What's more, because we're involved
in the South West Regional Development Agency's 'ConnectingSW'
programme, we have been able to ensure that the Cornish objectives
are in line with the strategy for the rest of the South West
- so the Cornish experience will have a beneficial knock-on
effect for the whole region."
Lizzie Beesley, BT regional director for the South West,
says: "ICT is playing a vital role in making the
Westcountry a more prosperous and inclusive community by helping
to overcome many of the problems posed by its relatively peripheral
location and distance from major centres.
"More than 99 per cent of homes and businesses
in Cornwall and Devon are now able to access broadband - and
there are countless examples of the technology being used
to help make Westcountry businesses become more competitive
and efficient. Households, too, are benefiting by capitalising
on the huge educational and leisure opportunities offered
by the internet.
"A great deal has been achieved in a relatively
short period of time, but much remains to be done. It is not
just about whether Westcountry businesses and households are
connected to the technology. It is also about whether they
are taking full advantage of its great potential."
John Berry, Managing Director of Cornwall Enterprise says:
"Our strategy for actnow is all about
using technology to attract world-class companies and give
Cornish businesses a springboard to compete on the world stage."
Paul Clark, leading IT specialist and Managing Director of
Packet Ship Technologies agrees: "Cornwall has a real
opportunity to become the next Seattle… whether Cornwall
grasps this opportunity will be seen over the next 12 to 24
months."
HOW actnow WILL TRANSFORM CORNWALL THROUGH ICT
The cornerstones of the actnow vision are:
| 1. |
To help 100% of businesses in Cornwall to
connect to broadband and increase their profitability
Half of businesses in Cornwall already have broadband,
however actnow want to make sure every
single business can benefit from the technology. Smaller
businesses and self employed people such as trades people,
craftspeople, small producers and retail outlets can
all save time and money with broadband.
Even the majority of the 50% or so of businesses that
already have broadband have so far only scratched the
surface of the opportunity. There is also much more
to be done in encouraging businesses to exploit the
opportunities opened up by broadband to improve profitability
and efficiency – for example in terms of new eBusiness
models and flexible working.
|
| 2. |
To increase the take up of broadband amongst
individuals, bringing broadband to each and every man,
woman and child in Cornwall
actnow wants to tackle the Digital
Divide – the opportunity chasm which separates
those people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that
have broadband from those that do not. Around 40% of
adults in the UK have no experience of using a computer
and only 50% of homes have some kind of access to the
internet. These people are cut off from access to information,
goods and services as well as government services delivered
via the internet. One exciting thing about broadband
is that for many it could open up the prospect of economic
activity or greater prosperity – paving the way
to online learning of new skills, new business creation
and greater connectivity with others. For those in remote
rural areas, those with disabilities or caring responsibilities
that restrict their mobility, broadband is potentially
a key that can unlock a new way of living – and
generate new wealth in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
For those that are seriously terrified of computers,
other more familiar devices such as TV and mobile phones
could be a way into the internet.
|
| 3. |
To make Cornwall a leading edge location
for communications infrastructure
Broadband internet connectivity will soon be viewed
alongside water and electricity as an important everyday
utility, and actnow will work towards
it being universally available to every business, man,
woman and child in Cornwall.
However, today's broadband will be tomorrow's dial-up
and actnow aims to ensure sufficient
connection speeds across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
to allow businesses and people to lead rather than follow
the content that is delivered through the internet.
Applications such as digital TV and the needs of companies
working from distributed locations will be more prevalent.
Higher bandwidths will enable wider access to applications
such as eGovernment and telecare. Additionally actnow
will work to ensure a number of key locations have leading
edge connectivity, enabling Cornwall's main economic
centres to compete with cities on a global basis.
|
| 4. |
To make Cornwall the flexible working capital
of the UK
Flexible working is the future of business and the
killer application of broadband. Through flexible working,
businesses can use smart new approaches to increase
competitiveness and improve employees' work-life
balance. This means 'business anytime anywhere'
as broadband enables people to work from home, on the
move or from a number of different locations. actnow
will drive the development of flexible working, propelling
Cornwall to a position where it can lay claim to being
'The Flexible Working Capital of the UK'.
As a result, by 2015, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
will be recognised as a location: |
| |
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which is ideal for starting or growing a
business |
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where all individuals can experience personal growth
and learning |
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which is perfect for working flexibly with a great work-life
balance |
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where all individuals and businesses can access information
and resources freely |
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with a reputation for innovation and dynamism |
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with vibrant and connected communities |
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that is using ICT in a way that is sustainable |
For further information please contact Emma Lydon of actnow
on 0800 800 935 or email: Emma.Lydon@actnowcornwall.co.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly has invested in actnow through the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).
Editor's notes:
The actnow programme is a demand-led initiative
to encourage businesses in Cornwall to gain the support they
need to move into the broadband economy. It is one of the
largest private and public sector partnerships in Cornwall
since Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were granted Objective
One status by the European Union in 2000.
The £20 million project is part financed by the European
Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
(EAGGF). Other project partners include Cornwall Enterprise,
the Objective One Partnership Office, BT, the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the South West of England
Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council, Business
Link Devon and Cornwall and Cornwall College.
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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