The SFSY Connection and Innovation Vouchers Scheme offers vouchers to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take-up faster digital connectivity and to further support SMEs to introduce transformational innovations to the business that can improve business performance through faster digital connections.
Connection vouchers assist SMEs to meet the upfront capital costs of a high-speed broadband connection to their business premises, providing a minimum of 30Mbps. Actual connection costs between £1000 and £5000 (Voucher values would be between £500 and £2500) excluding VAT.
Innovation vouchers assist SMEs to adopt superior ICT business solutions that will provide significant business benefit and growth. Actual innovation costs between £5000 and £24999 (Voucher values would be between £2500 and £12499.50) excluding VAT.
Wentworth Woodhouse brought their 18th century stately home up to speed with the a new e-commerce website and VoIP phone system, part-funded by the Superfast South Yorkshire Connection & Innovation Voucher Scheme. ‘We badly needed a 21st century website to meet the demands of a modern visitor attraction. Our new website is capable of telling the story of the house, our company, and to sell and engage with a wide range of people from customers, suppliers and members of the public,’ said Julie Readman, Facilities Manager. The team can now handle tour and event bookings through a new online portal, serving their customers in a much more streamlined way. Additionally, the new VoIP phone system makes it easy for staff to communicate across the 3 acre Mansion house, and prepares them for future growth and planned expansion of the site and its services. ‘The application itself was simple and once we completed the work, the claim and payment was very straightforward and swift.’Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust
Doncaster's Polydon Industries are evolving beyond their roots in the agricultural machinery, vehicle, and mining sectors. Their latest step introduced an all-new Mie Trak KIOSK system, which links their shop floor to the cloud, along with CRM and VoIP facilities to better connect them with their clients, in a project part-funded by the Superfast South Yorkshire Connection and Innovation Voucher Scheme. The new system introduces a two-way flow of communication and data from the customer all the way down to the operator on the shop floor, with cloud-based project documents accessible at all times. Polydon can now collaborate with international clients in real-time through the use of VoIP and video-conferencing, their machines can be controlled and monitored remotely, and can even be run through the night in an unmanned ‘lights out’ mode. ‘Communication is key to our business,’ says Managing Director Harold Howard. ‘As a company that provides design and development services through to full manufacturing and product support, we needed to be able to support our clients in real time, and the financial assistance given by SFSY has helped us to achieve this.’ ‘Not only does this give us the ability to discuss projects with our clients as they are being developed by our engineers, enabling simultaneous design and manufacture, it also allows us to support service engineers who require technical information whilst out in the field.’
Polydon Industries
For over 40 years Mayflower has been working with clients in the steel, construction rail and oil sectors. Among their projects are the specialist plunge piling rig used in constructing The Shard, the UK’s only double radial lock gates, and the world’s largest rotating mirror ball. Mayflower have benefitted from an SFSY Innovation Voucher, funding 50% of the cost of their new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system Joe Wright - Mayflower Marketing Manager said ‘The SFSY Vouchers Scheme process is easy to follow and the team were really helpful with our application. We would recommend SMEs thinking about applying for a voucher to do it now! Thanks to the SFSY Innovation Voucher, our new CRM system allows us instant access to real time sales data which enables us to coordinate our sales and marketing efforts more effectively. The insight produced by the CRM will help us to develop strategies for developing new business opportunities within new markets.
Communication between the teams is now more effective, with always-up-to-date information shared quickly and securely between teams - the Mayflower team continues to grow, as with the implementation of the system Mayflower will be looking to employ two full-time sales representatives, capitalising on their digital innovation.’
Mayflower Engineering
Founded in 1994, Eaton Commercial is a firm of Chartered Surveyors providing property consultancy to a wide range of clients, specialising in the motor trade sector, advising in the acquisition of sites for dealerships and analysing their assets to maximise property returns. The Sheffield based firm have benefitted from an SFSY Connection Voucher, which has provided 50% of the cost of their new 40Mbps wireless connection.
Their new wireless connection has enabled them to kick-start the marketing of properties, edit their material through internal connections and external resources such as Rightmove at a moment’s notice, and provides instant access to legal documents and large data files such as architects’ plans, consultancy documents and online planning applications. Robert Eaton Managing Director of Eaton Commercial said, ‘The claim process has been swift, and we would certainly recommend that other SMEs apply.’Eaton Commercial Property Consultants
The SFSY Connection & Innovation Voucher Scheme reserves the right to close the Scheme before 21st December 2018 and make any necessary amendments to the timescales in line with the programme budgetary requirements.
Scheme Stage | Key Dates |
---|---|
Scheme launch | 6th February 2017 |
Deadline for Applications | Closed on 26th July 2018 |
Final vouchers issued | 29th August 2018 |
Orders must be placed with supplier at latest | 6th October 2018 |
Solution must be installed by | 4th January 2019 |
Claims must be submitted by | 2nd March 2019 |
Claims completed and scheme closes down | 29th March 2019 |
The SFSY Connection and Innovation Voucher Scheme is supported by the Sheffield City Region European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), part of the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) portfolio 2015 to 2020.
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