A new chapter in regional ICT is beginning. Having established a high level of activity and awareness of ICT development across South West England, funding for ConnectingSW ends on 28 February.

ConnectingSW was set up to help establish the seven county broadband partnerships and build relationships between them to assist them in delivering their projects and to help in unlocking the region’s business potential. The various projects, managed by the Agency’s area teams, have all been very successful and the last one will complete early in 2008.

Figures from the ONS released in August 2007 showed that South West England had the highest residential take-up of broadband (69 per cent) in the UK, alongside London.

Across South West England the importance of ICT is being recognised. Some of the original sub-regional partnerships have become well-established and will continue, for example Somerset and Cornwall. In other areas new partnerships have developed which have strong motivation and purpose, for example Bristol and Swindon. Where there is a need and motivation, new partnerships are forming.

Key elements of the website will be transferred to the ICT pages of our Agency’s website.

Please click here to visit the South West RDA ICT section.