A new GOV.UK service allows businesses and individuals to find out whether their address is due a broadband upgrade. By entering your postcode, you can see whether your premises or home is covered by rollout plans.
The government’s Project Gigabit initiative is aiming to achieve 99% gigabit coverage by 2032. Rural communities, in particular, have to deal with slow internet speeds and this can make doing business in those areas challenging.
If your premises are not covered by a current plan, the checker will redirect you to Ofcom so that you can see which broadband suppliers are active in your area. You could then contact them to register your interest in an upgrade, which may help them to assess demand in your area and inform future rollout plans.
If you struggle with a slow internet connection, it could be worth using the checker to find out whether upgrades are available in your area.
To use the checker, see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-your-gigabit-broadband-availability
The government has published a response to its consultation 'Land Remediation Relief' (LRR). The review sought to understand whether the Corporation Tax relief continues to incentivise the redevelopment of brownfield land and whether reforms are needed to ensure it remains effective, accessible and aligned with modern remediation practices.
The government has published a raft of consultations on tax and business policies. It is worth being aware of these, as they are a good indicator of future policy direction likely to impact small businesses.
