Smaller businesses in 22 cities around the UK have until March 2015 to apply for a Government grant worth up to £3,000 to start reaping the benefits of faster broadband speeds and better connectivity.

The scheme allows businesses to apply for grants of up to £3,000 each to cover the costs of installing faster and better broadband. So far, almost 3,000 businesses in the UK's “Superconnected cities” have received grants, with hundreds more currently going through the application process.

More than £450million has been allocated to the scheme to get faster broadband to businesses.

The grants, in the form of vouchers, are part of the Government's broadband transformation across the country, helping cities to create and attract new jobs and investment.

Benefits to businesses of faster broadband include:

• Growing and accessing new markets through better communication with customers and suppliers
• Increasing security through fast secure back-up of data
• Increasing productivity and improving customer service through faster upload and download speeds
• Reducing the costs of software and hardware by benefiting from the option of online applications and data storage
• Enhancing communication and collaboration by accommodating colleagues, clients and partners on real-time video calls, and by sharing information on cloud-based software.

To find out more about this offer and apply for the broadband connection vouchers, click here.

Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, says: "We want to make sure that small businesses have the help and support they need to grow and prosper in our digital age. That is why we are providing these grants to help small businesses meet their challenges.

"I urge all eligible small businesses to apply straight away and help boost their businesses with faster broadband."

Business Minister Matthew Hancock adds: "In today's economy, not being online is simply not an option and nearly every small firm I meet says that a fast, reliable broadband connection is vital for growth. So I urge our small businesses to make the most of this opportunity and apply for broadband vouchers.

"Making sure that all our businesses can access the resources they need to grow is an important part of our long-term economic plan, and we are determined to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business."

The Superconnected cities programme is running alongside the Government's rollout of faster broadband to rural areas, which has already brought improved internet connectivity to more than 1million homes and businesses.

The aim is that by 2017, 95% of the UK will be have access to these faster internet connection speeds.