Plymouth to enjoy economic boost of

CHAMBER UPDATE

Plymouth to enjoy economic boost of over £420m from CityFibre’s full fibre rollout

A new report commissioned by CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has identified that Plymouth stands to be a huge beneficiary from the rollout of future-proof full fibre infrastructure which is now well under way across the city.

The study by the consultancy Hatch, (Economic Impact of Full Fibre Infrastructure from CityFibre’s Network), estimates that, over a fifteen-year period, the positive impacts of CityFibre’s £52m investment in Plymouth will include £233m in productivity and innovation gains, £51m from a widened workforce, £12m in local authority efficiency savings and £177m in increased housing value.

Technological benefits are also a major focus of the report, which demonstrates that CityFibre’s network in Plymouth will help unlock £555m in GVA from 5G services, £210m from the Internet of Things and £98m from Smart City initiatives, like intelligent traffic management systems and street lighting.

The continuing transition to home and flexible working, supported by full fibre access at home and in the office, is also unlocking access to a larger pool of labour for employers.

The UK, as a whole, stands to benefit from over £38billion in potential economic benefits. Productivity improvements and innovation are responsible for the largest impact, driving more than £22billion in GVA gains nationwide. This is due to the positive effect that far faster and more reliable digital connectivity has been shown to have on business productivity and innovation, increasing turnover and contributing to the formation of new businesses and business models.

Kathryn Askew Smith, Area Manager for Plymouth at CityFibre, said: “This report demonstrates just how powerful and essential full fibre is as a catalyst for growth and a platform for innovation and investment.

“Plymouth is a major hub employer of STEM industries, so connectivity is extremely important. We’re proud of our rollout in Plymouth, the investment we are making here, and we look forward to seeing how it will benefit residents and businesses over the decades to come.”

Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: “I was delighted to visit CityFibre on Friday to see the progress it has made in rolling out its genuine full fibre network across Plymouth. This report reveals the huge benefits this network will bring our local economy – increasing business potential and boosting innovation, productivity and workforce flexibility.

“Fast and reliable broadband is essential for businesses, schools and families to make the most of opportunities online, which is why the Government has committed to getting gigabit-capable speeds to 85% of the country in the next three years.” Residents interested in giving their home broadband a boost can find out more about the build and check whether services are live here: www.cityfibre.com/ homes

GWR LOOKS AT WHY BUSINESS IS BETTER IN PERSON

After years of being behind a screen, it’s never felt better doing business in person. Train travel offers a sustainable and work efficient solution to getting colleagues out and about again.

Great Western Railway (GWR) understands that managing travel across a business can be complex.

The company has developed a platform that makes booking train travel across your business easy. The Business Direct platform enables you to book train tickets across Britain, helps you stay on top of your spending, enables limits to be set for colleagues, allows you to produce customisable reports, and you won’t even be charged booking fees.

When travelling with GWR, you and your colleagues can expect to work on the go, with free Wi-Fi onboard all GWR trains and at stations; and plug sockets at every seat. A refreshment trolley on high-speed services is available and if you fancy travelling First Class, you will find First Class lounges in London Paddington, Cardiff, Penzance, and Truro providing the perfect rest and refuel stop before boarding the train.

Research by Rail Delivery Group identifies that ‘taking the train... cuts carbon emissions by two thirds compared to travelling by car’. Therefore, not only can colleagues work as they travel, but they can help to cut the company’s carbon footprint as well.

The benefits of signing up to Business Direct include:

• Tickets available to purchase for trains across Britain • No booking fees • Keep track of spend with a comprehensive customisable reporting package that allows you to run detailed travel expenditure reports • Add users with authority to book tickets at thresholds you set (for e.g restricting users to book Standard Class only) • Season tickets also now available to purchase via the business direct booking tool* • Simple ticket collection either as an e-ticket, from a Ticket Machine or posted First Class for free** • Easy payment options by either credit card or monthly by direct debit***

For more information visit GWR.com/BusinessDirect To open a Business Direct account, please email the team at: gwrbusinessdirect@GWR.com, or call 03457 000 125. *Photocards must accompany season tickets **e-tickets delivered as a PDF to the traveller ***annual £275 fee charged if you pay by direct debit