Gigabit Connection Voucher Scheme: Free Funding for Business Fibre

What is the Gigabit Connection Voucher Scheme?

The Gigabit Connection Voucher Scheme (GCVS) is a UK government initiative delivered through DSIT (the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) and administered regionally through local authorities and growth hubs. It contributes towards the install cost of gigabit-capable connections — principally full-fibre or a leased line — for eligible businesses.

The scheme has operated in various forms since 2018 and runs alongside the wider Project Gigabit full-fibre rollout. Availability is not nationwide at once: some regions hold active voucher funding while others have exhausted their current allocation and wait for the next round. If you have not checked your eligibility recently, it is worth doing — funding can be combined across multiple businesses sharing one connection.

How much funding is available under the scheme?

Funding is awarded per eligible premises and can be aggregated across neighbouring businesses on a shared infrastructure project. That pooling mechanism is what makes the scheme worth coordinating around, because the civils cost of bringing fibre to a building is usually the largest single line item.

As of 2026, the published voucher values are:

Crucially, vouchers can be aggregated. If multiple businesses in the same building or on the same street apply simultaneously, their individual vouchers can be combined towards one shared infrastructure project. Five eligible businesses could collectively access up to £17,500 in funding — enough to cover a significant share of the civils and installation cost of a new fibre connection. The supplier installing the connection claims the funding on your behalf, so you see a reduced upfront bill rather than a cash payment.

What connections qualify for a gigabit voucher?

To qualify, the connection must be gigabit-capable — able to deliver download speeds of at least 1 Gbps — and installed by an approved supplier registered with the scheme. Standard copper-based FTTC broadband does not qualify because it cannot reliably reach gigabit speeds.

In practice, two connection types dominate claims:

• Full-fibre (FTTP) broadband — from Openreach or alternative networks such as CityFibre and Hyperoptic. See our guide to business broadband options.
• Leased lines — symmetrical, dedicated Ethernet circuits that are gigabit-capable by definition. Our what is a leased line explainer covers how these differ from shared broadband.

If you are weighing a dedicated circuit against shared fibre, an FTTP leased line gives you the symmetrical speed and uptime guarantees the voucher is designed to subsidise. Ofcom's broadband and telecoms data shows full-fibre availability climbing year on year, but business-grade circuits still often require funded civils work to reach a premises.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility centres on being a UK-based SME that does not already have a gigabit-capable line at the premises. The scheme is aimed at premises where a gigabit upgrade would otherwise be too expensive to justify, so an existing fibre connection rules you out.

To be eligible, your business must:

• Be a small or medium-sized enterprise — generally fewer than 250 employees and turnover below £45m
• Be based in the UK
• Not already have a gigabit-capable connection at the premises
• Not have previously claimed a voucher for the same premises
• Use an approved installer registered with the scheme

Charities — including registered charities and community interest companies — are also eligible. In some regions, scheme variants have extended to housing associations and GP surgeries, so check the local rules rather than assuming.

How do you apply for a gigabit voucher?

The process varies slightly by region but follows a consistent shape: confirm availability, pick a registered supplier, apply online, then apply the voucher code at the point of installation. The supplier claims the funding directly, reducing your install cost.

The general steps are:

1. Check availability — use the official Project Gigabit and DSIT voucher resources, or contact your regional Growth Hub, to confirm vouchers are live in your area. 2. Find an approved supplier — only installations by registered scheme suppliers are eligible. Your provider can confirm registration; if they are not registered, they cannot claim on your behalf. 3. Apply for your voucher — applications are made online through the scheme portal with basic business and premises details. 4. Receive your voucher code — approved codes carry an expiry date, typically 6–12 months. 5. Arrange installation — give the code to your approved supplier at the time of ordering; they claim the funding and reduce your bill accordingly.

Can vouchers be combined with other funding?

In some regions, gigabit vouchers can be combined with other support — including local authority business grants and UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations. The combining rules vary by region, so confirm with your Growth Hub or a registered supplier before you commit to an order.

For premises inside the government's Project Gigabit footprint, subsidised full-fibre may be arriving regardless of the voucher scheme. The catch is timing: Project Gigabit coverage is measured in years, whereas a voucher-backed install is a faster route to gigabit speeds for businesses that cannot wait.

Is the Gigabit Connection Voucher Scheme still active?

The scheme has been renewed and extended several times since launch. As of 2026, regional availability varies — some areas hold active funding, others have exhausted their current allocation and await new rounds. It is not available everywhere simultaneously.

The reliable way to check is through the official DSIT voucher portal or a registered supplier. AMVIA is a registered scheme supplier and can confirm current availability at your premises as part of a connectivity review — one provider handling eligibility, install, and ongoing service.

Practical advice: making the most of the voucher

A voucher reduces upfront install cost, not your monthly fee — so the smartest applications treat it as one part of a wider connectivity decision, not a deal in itself.

• Act early in a new round — allocations are first-come, first-served. Once a regional pot is gone, you wait for the next.
• Coordinate with neighbours — a group application enables more funding and shares the civils cost of bringing fibre to the building.
• Check both sides of the cost — the voucher cuts installation; confirm the ongoing monthly price is competitive too.
• Use an approved supplier — only registered installers can claim. You cannot retrospectively claim a voucher after an install by an unregistered provider.