independent Cornish news and comment

ActNow has a vision for Cornwall

actnow announces its future vision to bring the benefits of broadband to every business, man, woman and child in Cornwall.


Cornwall Enterprise’s actnow broadband partnership has announced its vision for the future of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Cornwall.

This includes increasing the accessibility and take up of broadband still further so that 100% of businesses and people – from schoolchildren to the elderly – are benefiting.

Despite Cornwall’s deeply rural geography, the Objective One funded actnow project has already spearheaded the creation of a county in which broadband is available virtually everywhere. Around half of local companies are now using the high speed internet technology to help their businesses grow and take up overall is well above the South West and national average. Over 200,000 people in Cornwall are now using broadband and as bandwidth speeds increase and new applications develop, the future opportunities are immense.

As part of the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Economic Forum, leading experts in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) have been developing the future strategy for ICT in the county, culminating in actnow’s publication of the new vision document today.

actnow Project Director Nigel Ashcroft says “actnow has a compelling vision for a future Cornwall which is transformed by ICT. We must embrace the interest shown by companies such as Microsoft and Cisco Systems and make sure our ICT strategy enables Cornwall to become the ‘silicon peninsula’ of the UK.

“Cornwall can be the UK’s leader in a brand new way of working. We see a place where people want to live and can work flexibly, thanks to a cutting edge communications infrastructure. Traffic congestion will be reduced and better use will be made of office space as companies need fewer desks for people working from home and outside of normal office hours. ICT can do all this – not only adding value to business but making a big contribution to people’s work-life balance.”

“What’s more, because we’re involved in the South West Regional Development Agency’s ‘ConnectingSW’ programme, we have been able to ensure that the Cornish objectives are in line with the strategy for the rest of the South West - so the Cornish experience will have a beneficial knock-on effect for the whole region.

Lizzie Beesley, BT regional director for the South West, says: "ICT is playing a vital role in making the Westcountry a more prosperous and inclusive community by helping to overcome many of the problems posed by its relatively peripheral location and distance from major centres.

"More than 99 per cent of homes and businesses in Cornwall and Devon are now able to access broadband - and there are countless examples of the technology being used to help make Westcountry businesses become more competitive and efficient. Households, too, are benefiting by capitalising on the huge educational and leisure opportunities offered by the internet.

"A great deal has been achieved in a relatively short period of time, but much remains to be done. It is not just about whether Westcountry businesses and households are connected to the technology. It is also about whether they are taking full advantage of its great potential."

John Berry, Managing Director of Cornwall Enterprise says: “Our strategy for actnow is all about using technology to attract world-class companies and give Cornish businesses a springboard to compete on the world stage.”

Paul Clark, leading IT specialist and Managing Director of Packet Ship Technologies agrees: “Cornwall has a real opportunity to become the next Seattle… whether Cornwall grasps this opportunity will be seen over the next 12 to 24 months.”



How actnow will Transform Cornwall through ICT

The cornerstones of the actnow vision are:

1. To help 100% of businesses in Cornwall to connect to broadband and increase their profitability

Half of businesses in Cornwall already have broadband, however actnow want to make sure every single business can benefit from the technology. Smaller businesses and self employed people such as tradespeople, craftspeople, small producers and retail outlets can all save time and money with broadband.

Even the majority of the 50% or so of businesses that already have broadband have so far only scratched the surface of the opportunity. There is also much more to be done in encouraging businesses to exploit the opportunities opened up by broadband to improve profitability and efficiency – for example in terms of new eBusiness models and flexible working.


2. To increase the take up of broadband amongst individuals, bringing broadband to every single man, woman and child in Cornwall

actnow wants to tackle the Digital Divide – the opportunity chasm which separates those people in the county that have broadband from those that do not. Around 40% of adults in the UK have no experience of using a computer and only 50% of homes have some kind of access to the internet. These people are cut off from access to information, goods and services as well as government services delivered via the internet. One exciting thing about broadband is that for many it could open up the prospect of economic activity or greater prosperity – paving the way to online learning of new skills, new business creation and greater connectivity with others. For those in remote rural areas, those with disabilities or caring responsibilities that restrict their mobility, broadband is potentially a key that can unlock a new way of living – and generate new wealth in the county. For those that are seriously terrified of computers, other more familiar devices such as TV and mobile phones could be a way into the internet.


3. To make Cornwall a leading edge location for communications infrastructure

Broadband internet connectivity will soon be viewed alongside water and electricity as an important everyday utility, and actnow will work towards it being universally available to every single business, man, woman and child in Cornwall.

However, today’s broadband will be tomorrow’s dial-up and actnow aims to ensure sufficient connection speeds across the county to allow businesses and people to lead rather than follow the content that is delivered through the Internet. Applications such as digital TV and the needs of companies working from distributed locations will be more prevalent. Higher bandwidths will enable wider access to applications such as eGovernment and telecare. Additionally actnow will work to ensure a number of key locations have leading edge connectivity, enabling Cornwall’s main economic centres to compete with cities on a global basis.


4. To make Cornwall the flexible working capital of the UK

Flexible working is the future of business and the killer application of broadband. Through flexible working, businesses can use smart new approaches to increase competitiveness and improve employees’ work-life balance. This means ‘business anytime anywhere’ as broadband enables people to work from home, on the move or from a number of different locations. actnow will drive the development of flexible working in the county, propelling Cornwall to a position where it can lay claim to being ‘The Flexible Working Capital of the UK’.

As a result, by 2015, Cornwall will be recognised as:

• the ideal county in which to start up or grow a business
• a county where all individuals can experience personal growth and learning
• the perfect location in which to work flexibly with a great work life balance
• a county where all individuals and businesses can access information and resources freely
• a county with a reputation for innovation and dynamism
• a county with vibrant and connected communities
• a county that is using ICT in a way that is sustainable



Notes for Editors

The actnow programme is a demand-led initiative to encourage businesses in Cornwall to gain the support they need to move into the broadband economy. It is one of the largest private and public sector partnerships in Cornwall since the county was granted Objective One status by the European Union in 2000.

The £20 million project is part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF). Other project partners include Cornwall Enterprise, the Objective One Partnership Office, BT, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council, Business Link Devon and Cornwall and Cornwall College.

For more information, contact Emma Lydon on 0800 800 935