Championing Better Broadband for Small Businesses

Small businesses in Cramlington and Killingworth rely on fast, reliable digital connections to operate smoothly and grow. However, many still face challenges due to poor broadband infrastructure.

Emma Foody, Member of Parliament for Cramlington and Killingworth, recently raised these concerns in the House of Commons, urging the government to take further action to support digital connectivity in the North East.

During a parliamentary question, Emma Foody MP highlighted the issues small businesses face, saying:

“Recently, I attended a roundtable of small businesses in the North East, held at Sage, and a key theme was the need for good connections and digital services to help their businesses grow. Digital connectivity often holds them back. Can the minister tell me what the government is doing to ensure that digital infrastructure is strong enough to support local businesses and constituencies like mine?”

In response, Feryal Clark MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for AI and Digital Government, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving broadband services:

“It is right that not only do we need to have good online accessible services, but businesses need to be able to connect to those services. That’s why the government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage by 2030. I’m glad to say that over 94% of premises in my honourable friend’s constituency can access gigabit broadband, including the businesses she refers to. But of course, I’m happy to meet with my honourable friend to talk about what more we can do in this important area.”

Following the exchange, Emma Foody MP welcomed the government’s commitment to improving connectivity but emphasized the importance of ongoing action:

“It is great to hear that the government is taking proactive steps to address the concerns of small businesses in the North East. When I attended the roundtable with local businesses and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, I heard firsthand about the barriers to trade they face.

“From ordering stock and managing employees to simply getting a card machine to connect, poor broadband can create significant challenges for small businesses. These are unnecessary frictions that can be resolved with better digital infrastructure. I am glad that the government is committed to Project Gigabit and reducing these barriers for businesses.”