AN MP visited a school and an automation business who have benefitted from the government's £5 billion pound broadband programme. 

Several county council officials and the Building Digital UK (BDUK) Chief Executive Paul Norris joined Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP to visit two sites which have benefitted from the roll-out of the Project Gigabit on Friday, 24 March.

Project Gigabit is a government programme which helps give hard-to-reach communities access to lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband.

The Project Gigabit procurement covering the Cotswolds constituency is expected to launch in June this year, with a contract expected to be awarded by March 2024.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown at the Griffin Theatre in Rendcomb CollegeSir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown at the Griffin Theatre in Rendcomb College (Image: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown)

The first site visit was to Rendcomb College, a co-educational day and boarding school for approximately 400 boys and girls aged from three to 18 near Cirencester.

Rendcomb College’s Performing Arts Centre received a gigabit-capable connection via the Superfast Programme with the supplier Gigaclear in 2017. 

The group were delighted to see the benefits that the upgrades in digital connectivity have had on the learning experience for staff and students. 

They also visited the Inverter Drive Supermarket, an industrial automation distributor based in Chipping Campden who specialise in online sales of products such as variable speed drivers, controllers and motors.

Sir Geoffrey Clinton-Brown said: “High-speed broadband has become like the fourth utility, for households and businesses. 

"I am delighted that the Government's gigabit project is yielding real results which I have campaigned on for many years.

"It was good to be joined by Paul and other officials on Friday to see how this project is benefiting the Cotswolds.”