Vodafone has offered UK-based small companies twelve months of free business broadband, which can be installed either in the home or office, as they continue to navigate the covid-19 pandemic.
Coinciding with the third national UK lockdown, the offer is being made available to businesses with one to fifty employees, including existing customers that are eligible for an upgrade, many of which are more reliant on a solid and stable internet connection than ever.
The offer will be available on a 36-month plan until February 28.
The offer follows research by Enterprise Nation that showed the number of small firms running entirely online has doubled from 27 per cent to 55 per cent during the pandemic, alongside a massive shift to remote working. 71 per cent of those polled said that they rely more than ever on broadband.
94 per cent said they relied on video conferencing for work during the pandemic, and 70 per cent believe that a ‘dedicated’ business broadband line would be beneficial.
The study surveyed 918 UK-based small businesses, with 84 per cent of respondents being in businesses of fewer than three people, and 59 per cent being in their first three years of operation.
A Vodafone spokesperson confirmed that home workers can also benefit from the offer should their companies sign up for the package.
“2020 will go down as the year business went online – we have seen small businesses in their droves pivot to build websites, embrace social media and rely on video platforms to keep in touch with their teams,” said Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation.
“To succeed for the longer term, this requires strong broadband that won’t let you down and investment in digital technology.”
“This generous offer from Vodafone will be a great help for small firms as they pick themselves up after the impact of the pandemic and keep building their business.”
Under the Vodafone offer, once the initial 12-month period has passed, the monthly fee will return to the standard rate of £22.50 (excluding VAT) per month for Business Broadband Superfast 1, and £25 (excluding VAT) per month for Business Broadband Superfast 2.
There will be a one-time fee of £20 to cover set up costs, with no further payment required until the thirteenth month.
“The message to small businesses is clear: we’re here to help,” said Anne Sheehan, business director at Vodafone UK.
“Businesses need to be running as efficiently as possible in 2021 – that means getting online, using the best digital tools, getting the best business advice, and spending as little money as possible.
“It’s great to see how businesses adapted throughout last year, and we’re here to help more do the same in 2021.”
8th January 2021.
