BUSINESSWOMEN in Cheshire have been given a £75,000 boost to help them take advantage of the latest digital technologies.

Connecting Cheshire, a partnership bringing fibre broadband to Cheshire, has been granted £75,000 from the Government to help women in business across the county learn how to exploit the benefits of faster broadband and digital technology.

Nicky Morgan MP, the Minister for Women, announced Connecting Cheshire was among the successful projects to be awarded funding as part of the Women and Broadband Challenge Fund.

The fund was recently established to help female entrepreneurs and women-led businesses to take advantage of the UK’s broadband infrastructure in order to work more effectively, access new markets and grow business online.

A package of specialist support and events will be provided to help Cheshire businesses as part of the project.

Connecting Cheshire, a partnership between BT and Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington councils, which is bringing fibre broadband to 96 per cent of homes and businesses by the end of 2015, was awarded the maximum amount of funding.

Connecting Cheshire plans to focus on female entrepreneurs in rural and semi-rural areas, that will benefit from the Connecting Cheshire fibre broadband roll-out, as well as female-led businesses in the retail, creative industries and the visitor economy sectors.

Clr David Brown, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, on behalf of the Connecting Cheshire Partnership said: “Fibre broadband and digital technology can offer real improvements and cost savings to businesses.

“We want female entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Cheshire to take advantage of this opportunity and see how they can make the most of new technology to improve the profitability of their businesses and help create new jobs across the Borough.”

Nicky Morgan MP said: “This fund will give women the practical help needed to get their businesses on-line and take advantage of superfast broadband. This will include online mentors, business clubs and training courses so that women all over the country can benefit from the kind of help Campus for Mums is giving.”

The project is expected to start in September 2014 and run for six months.