A new GOV.UK service allows businesses and individuals to find out whether their address is due a broadband upgrade. By entering your postcode, you can see whether your premises or home is covered by rollout plans.
The government’s Project Gigabit initiative is aiming to achieve 99% gigabit coverage by 2032. Rural communities, in particular, have to deal with slow internet speeds and this can make doing business in those areas challenging.
If your premises are not covered by a current plan, the checker will redirect you to Ofcom so that you can see which broadband suppliers are active in your area. You could then contact them to register your interest in an upgrade, which may help them to assess demand in your area and inform future rollout plans.
If you struggle with a slow internet connection, it could be worth using the checker to find out whether upgrades are available in your area.
To use the checker, see: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-your-gigabit-broadband-availability
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the unemployment rate in the three months to March 2026 has risen to 5% from 4.9%.
Originally proposed in last autumn’s Budget, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have introduced a targeted advance assurance service for Research and Development (R&D) tax relief claims. The service, which is a pilot, aims to provide businesses with clarity on complex or high-risk areas before they make a claim.
