Helen receives award from Cabinet Office Minister, Phil Hope

The awards ceremony, held in London on 24th July, is a Government backed awards showcase highlighting the best social applications of Technology. The awards set out to discover leading examples of social technology being used for positive change in communities, designed to "recognise everyday heroes who use technology to make a positive impact on the world around them”.

South Witham Broadband started in 2004 as a not for profit company, in response to the refusal of the leading national broadband companies to install broadband technology in the part of rural Lincolnshire in which South Witham stands. Helen Anderson, together with 3 other determined local residents, set about providing a broadband service for themselves. Four years later, South Witham Broadband is providing not only a wireless service locally, but also ADSL broadband services throughout the UK, specialising in difficult “long lines” other providers turn away.

Helen says, “I am delighted to have won this award, which is a  recognition not of myself but the achievements of South Witham Broadband over the last four years. We’re proud to offer a price competitive, unique service, which relates to customers as individuals, something the big providers would find impossible to match. What’s more, through our membership of the CBN, we are able to provide mentoring and advice to enterprises similar to our throughout the UK. So more and more people can get connected and take charge of their own broadband future.”

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Malcolm Corbett, CEO of CBN, commented, “South Witham Broadband is a fantastic example of a social enterprise that delivers a first class service to their local community. Helen is an inspiring person, as are the other members of the SWB team, and she thoroughly deserves this award. When the big players turn their back on rural communities, creating so-called “not-spots”, it’s great when local people prove them wrong. We’re proud to work with SWB and look forward to continuing to help local people set up their own broadband services throughout the UK.”