Our #MeetTheChampions video series continues this week featuring Noelle Godfrey, Programme Director for Connecting Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire County Council. In this video, Noelle reflects on the digital successes that have come as a result of the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme. Further to this, she explains how improved digital infrastructure has benefitted residents and businesses.

The Connecting Cambridgeshire programme, was set up in 2011 and set out to improve mobile coverage and broadband connectivity in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The programme covers a diverse landscape of cities, market towns, and rural areas which presented both challenges and opportunities in attracting commercial investment.  

Connecting Cambridgeshire aims to ensure that the area has the digital capabilities to meet people’s increasing reliance on mobile connectivity, to overcome the key challenges of our age and to tackle digital exclusion.  

Noelle explains how improved digital connectivity as a result of the programme has allowed residents to access education, jobs health and social care and other public services while helping businesses to compete and grow sustainability. Noelle says that there have been numerous examples of residents living in rural areas who have said that improved coverage has “changed their lives for the better”.

As a Digital Champion, Noelle has a clear remit to meet the challenges of improving digital infrastructure. She explains that she has found progress by engaging with elected members, parish councils and community groups to inform them about planning reforms for mobile infrastructure, explain the benefits and allay concerns about 5G. These parties can inturn engage with residents to resolve local issues and ensure the area receives improvements to digital connectivity infrastructure.

Be sure to watch the full video here to find out more about the positive impact of digital connectivity in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. You can also visit the Connecting Cambridgeshire website, for more information.

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Learn more about Noelle Godfrey and Cambridgeshire County Council via LinkedIn.

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