British Telecom have used our consultancy services for research and analysis. We have also helped BT develop study tours and online systems.

BT is a global leader in communications services. Their main activities are the provision of fixed-line services, broadband, mobile and TV products and services as well as networked IT services across the globe. Over the past two decades, BT has worked with Councils to transform the way they deliver services.
Local Futures has worked closely with BT for over a decade. We have prepared ‘Telecommunications and Regional Development’ reports, where we worked with a range of regional organisations to identify opportunities to exploit the benefits of telecommunication for regional economies. We have organised overseas study tours – to Canada, the USA, Germany and Scandinavia – exploring best practice in telecommunications and regional/local development. We have provided strategic advice on how to position their products and services with local councils and have worked together to raise awareness of the potential benefits of telecommunications and ICT.

In 2010 we organised a 'Connected Places' conference in association with BT. Held at the BT Tower London, the event looked at the implications of Government's 'Digital Britain' agenda – and plans for universal broadband access. We were particularly interested in the extent to which local authorities were embracing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to help address peripherality/connectivity issues, as well as their use to deliver some of their other strategic priorities. We also explored the digital inclusion agenda and assessed ICT take-up in different parts of the country. As in all our events, we highlighted some of the key policy challenges, both for national and local government.