Project: The Broadband Show

Client: South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA)

The Broadband Show was led by BRIC, the Bristol Interactive Cluster, and Junction K provided the Project Director services handling the delivery of this multi-faceted programme.

The aim was to increase the adoption of broadband by South West businesses. Today we take broadband for granted; in fact, half of us can’t remember life before broadband – or prefer not to! But it wasn’t so long ago when many small business owners couldn’t decide whether to connect or stick with dial up.

If people were going to connect, they had to see broadband in action, see how they could use it and see the benefits for themselves.

Our approach was to:
•Commission a range of computer programmes, which required broadband to work, and have some test-case companies try them out
•Create video case studies of those companies’ experiences – focusing on the business benefits
•Stage events across the region, showcasing the tools and their benefits
•Market the events under specially created ‘broadbandshow’ brand;
•Provide information and support through a multimedia website - featuring interactive demos and videos.

The programme helped the South West reach a tipping point for widespread broadband adoption. The region overcame a predicted market failure - to become a leading broadband UK region. We were really pleased when the project was highlighted as best-practice by the DTI (Dept Trade and Industry); however, credit has to go to Anne Scorer and the BRIC members for conceiving such a great project to work on.