A North Lancashire community broadband company is celebrating after winning more two awards this week.
B4RN, Broadband for the Rural North, based at Melling, were named winners at the INCA Gold Awards.
B4RN claimed ‘Best Community Project’ for a second year running and also took the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award.
As part of its unique build model, B4RN works shoulder-to-shoulder with volunteers from within communities, to get those communities connected.
Chief Operating Offer, Tom Rigg, said: “We are humbled to have received these awards on behalf of all our staff, volunteers, and the communities we serve. It is the strong partnership between landowners, communities, and staff that make it possible to deploy Full Fibre Gigabit Broadband services to some of the hardest to reach areas in England, that would otherwise be left behind.”
The awards were accepted at an awards dinner at St. George’s Hall in Liverpool on 16th November, which took place during the annual INCA Conference.
B4RN CEO, Michael Lee, said: “At B4RN we do things differently. We exist to bring the best internet in the country to the communities that are hardest to reach. We do this by working shoulder to shoulder with those communities, and we do it to deliver enduring benefit to those communities. It is humbling to see our unique approach, and the hard work and sacrifice of our staff, volunteers and landowners recognised on the national stage once again.”
INCA’s ‘Best Community Project’ award highlights community-led projects that might otherwise go under the radar using innovative approaches to challenging circumstances. The ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award was for B4RN’s leading role in the creation of ‘Voucher Priority Areas’ under Project Gigabit last year, which protected vital funding for altnets trying to connect the most remote communities.
Further recognition could be on the way for B4RN in late November. We are defending the title of ‘Best Rural ISP’ at the ISPA Awards in London, having claimed that trophy in 2021. At the same event, B4RN is also up for the public-nominated ‘Internet Hero’ award.
Meanwhile, in September this year, B4RN had another outstanding result – winning two awards at Connected Britain - the UK’s no.1 connectivity event.
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