Bosses are being given free IT advice thanks to a £250,000 project to enhance the county's computer systems. A total of 24 Lincolnshire firms are being offered a strategy on how best to use and upgrade their technology. They can then claim cash to pay for half of the cost of implementing the action plan. It comes after county councillors this month agreed to fund an extenison to the authority's £15m broadband initiative, Onlincolnshire.
The scheme finished last year but project managers wanted to assist a group of companies who had asked for help but had been unable to meet the December 2008 deadline. Council broadband programme manager Mike Bonnar said the extra cash would allow the team to continue its good work. "The £275,000 extension of business support would contribute towards up to 23 new jobs and would directly create two jobs and safeguard a further one", he said.
"In addition, the annual turnover of businesses supported by the extension of business support should increase by £620,000 year-on-year as a result of the innovative use of ICT". The three-year Onlincolnshire broadband project was funded by the council and the European Regional Development Fund. The ERDF funding could only be spent in areas of deprivation but because this extra cash comes purely from the council it can be spent anywhere in the county.
The chairman of the council's Capital Policy development Group, Councillor Chris Underwood-Frost, said he was pleased to approve the additional spending. "The current downturn is a major issue and this is a good way of supporting local businesses - that has never been more important to a local authority than now. I am happy to approve this".
Among the firms helped by the Onlincolnshire scheme was Pat Clarke Total Training based in Deacon Place, off Outer Circle Road, Lincoln. The firm, which offers health and social care training to care workers, was given £2,000 to upgrade its computer systems and buy new technology. "It came at a great time for us", said owner Pat Clarke. "We were planning on expanding the kind of training we offer anyway, so this fitted in perfectly. We used the money to buy the new licences we needed and to replace some old computers".
The Onlincolnshire team currently has a waiting list of 95 other firms who would like help if more cash becomes available. The team is in the process of putting together bids for cash. Lincolnshire Chamber Chief Executive Simon Beardsley said the Onlincolnshire support gave county firms the chance to compete against businesses elsewhere. "It puts them on an equal footing. It is vital support and we are pleased that the money has been made available" he said.
