One of the region’s biggest business organisations has backed national calls demanding improved digital and mobile connectivity for businesses.

East Midlands Chamber* has countersigned a letter to Culture Secretary John Whittingdale highlighting how a lack of investment in – and action on – digital technology is impeding business growth, including mobile coverage, supplier competition and insufficient broadband coverage and speeds.

The letter, signed by all 52 accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, formed part of the Chamber Network’s response to the Government’s consultation on the UK’s future digital strategy.

It called for the Government to match the scope and ambition of other countries to create a solid foundation for future business growth. Specific areas of concern highlighted by the submission were:

Broadband – 24Mbps is the speed the Government defines as superfast, but this does not compare favourably with many other EU countries which define it as 30Mbps+. To ensure strong performance, there must be funding equivalent to the rollout of superfast broadband to extend ultrafast broadband across the UK.

Improved competition – Improved competition and investment in the broadband market will boost access and choice for businesses. Ofcom’s review of the UK’s digital communications markets has come at the right time, and we look forward to the full findings and recommendations of this review.

Mobile coverage – Mobile phones are crucial to businesses for many aspects of their daily work and for this reason poor mobile coverage must be eliminated. The Government, regulators and service providers must act now to target areas of low connectivity, including many business parks and primary road and rail routes.

5G technology – The Government must ensure necessary funding is in place to drive research into 5G in order to make this a reality in the next decade. If the UK is a leading player in technologies like 5G, it can roll out the technology more quickly to give businesses a strong competitive advantage and boost productivity.

Diane Simpson, the Chamber’s Deputy Chief Executive and digital technology lead, said: “The digital landscape is always evolving and firms here in the East Midlands have an enviable track record as global innovators and leaders. However, the infrastructure they rely on is failing to keep pace.

“The UK may lead the world in ecommerce, but many offices, business parks and road and rail routes lack reliable, fast and affordable mobile and broadband connectivity.

“It is unacceptable today that businesses should have to operate with poor broadband connectivity. Access is fundamental and should be viewed as being equally as important as other utilities.

“The Government must address connectivity shortcomings for businesses on industrial estates, in cities and rural areas to allow them to compete in a global marketplace.

“In addition, the Government should have the ambition to lead the rest of the world in developing our digital infrastructure for the next generation.”

A major research programme aimed at exploring the impact of cyber crime on small and medium-sized businesses in the East Midlands has been launched.

The two-year initiative will be led by researchers from De Montfort University’s Psychology School, as part of the East Midlands Police Academic Partnership (EMPAC).

The consortium, which includes East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire), East Midlands Police and local cyber security experts, will explore how risky behaviours by employees can impact attitudes towards cybercrime.

It is hoped that a better understanding of such information will help businesses and police to develop better methods of protection against cyber crime, as well as giving SMEs a better awareness of current threats and issues.

The project will help support firms to provide better training for their employees, along with boosting their understanding of the types of cyber crimes currently being committed.

It is hoped the research will also lead to greater collaboration between academia, business and law enforcement to help prevent future attacks.

Andy Watterson, the Chamber’s Business Crime Manager, said: “Cyber crime is a huge and rapidly growing threat to businesses of all sizes, which makes increasing awareness of cyber security and its importance to local businesses an urgent priority.

“The Chamber has already hosted a number of seminars across the region as part of an ongoing events programme aimed at equipping local businesses with the information and knowledge they need to protect themselves online.

“This research is a key piece of work which the Chamber is delighted to be involved in and supporting. We will continue to work closely with our university, police and information security partners to push this agenda forward.”

Dr Lee Hadlington, Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology and Cyberpsychology at De Montfort University, said: “This type of work is critical if we are to gain a better understanding of how businesses are viewing cyber crime and also develop strategies to help communicate the current threats in an effective and useable manner.

“By establishing enhanced collaborative links between business, the Police and academic researchers can we make sure every enterprise, irrespective of size, is better supported when tackling the threat from cyber crime”

Detective Sergeant Carole Walton, East Midlands Regional Cyber Crime Protect Coordinator, said: “Cyber crime is recognised as a growing issue nationally and all five police forces within the East Midlands are involved in cyber crime investigations, with larger investigations led by the Regional Cyber Crime Unit within the East Midlands Special Operations Unit.

“Initiatives such as this are important to develop our knowledge of this area of criminality to better prevent and support victims of cyber crime. We are all vulnerable to cyber crime and better understanding of what makes us vulnerable, as individuals and businesses, helps to tailor prevention programmes to counter the rise of these crimes”

Businesses can take the survey online at http://bit.ly/1VPpj3m and are being encouraged to share the link throughout their organisations to ensure the overall results reflect responses from all levels of seniority and understanding.

Designed to share its team’s expert knowledge and answer any questions on a given financial or business topic, #AskMitchells will start on Tuesday 26 January and then be held, from 2.00pm to 3.00pm, on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Each month will have a different topic and focus and Mitchells’ experts will be on hand to give crucial help, information and advice on that particular area.

This month Auto Enrolment will be the subject of the inaugural #AskMitchells, and will be hosted by Mitchells’ Auto Enrolment expert Hari Mehta.

To take part, and put your question to Mitchells’ specialist team, Twitter users simply need to tweet @MitchellsAcc using the hashtag #AskMitchells between 2.00 – 3.00pm. During the hour the team will answer as many questions as possible.

Richard Trueman, managing partner of Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers, said: “We really want our Twitter hours to build into mini communities, and would welcome our clients taking part and sharing any other hints, tips and advice, that they feel would help other business owners.”

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