Budget 2011: Government announces 21 enterprise zones
Surpassing expectations, the Government announces 21 enterprise zones, all to be served by super-fast broadband.


Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has announced a total of 21 enterprise zones, not the 10 that were reportedly expected.
Businesses operating within these zones will benefit from 100 per cent discount rates on super-fast broadband, Osborne said during his budget speech today.
The zones will be established in various cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester.
London Mayor Boris Johnson will choose where the capital city's zone will be established.
A further 10 locations will be announced in the summer as the Government seeks to boost economic progress in the UK during difficult times.
The enterprise zones will be similar to those introduced by previous Conservative Governments in the 80s and 90s.
They will offer tax breaks and deregulation on top of next-generation broadband to help firms grow.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Osborne said he wanted to make the UK the best place in the world to start a business, which will be music the ears of youthful tech companies looking to set up shop in the country.
He said today's Budget was about reforming the nation's economy so it had "enduring growth and jobs in the future."
"Britain has lost ground in the world's economy and needs to catch up," Osborne told the House of Commons.
"This is a budget built on sound money that will benefit enterprise."
For all the news on today's budget, head here.
Tom Brewster is currently an associate editor at Forbes and an award-winning journalist who covers cyber security, surveillance, and privacy. Starting his career at ITPro as a staff writer and working up to a senior staff writer role, Tom has been covering the tech industry for more than ten years and is considered one of the leading journalists in his specialism.
He is a proud alum of the University of Sheffield where he secured an undergraduate degree in English Literature before undertaking a certification from General Assembly in web development.
-
RSAC Conference 2025: The front line of cyber innovation
ITPro Podcast Ransomware, quantum computing, and an unsurprising focus on AI were highlights of this year's event
-
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei thinks we're burying our heads in the sand on AI job losses
News With AI set to hit entry-level jobs especially, some industry execs say clear warning signs are being ignored
-
‘A major step forward’: Keir Starmer’s £187 million tech skills drive welcomed by UK industry
News The ‘TechFirst’ program aims to shore up the UK’s digital skills to meet future AI needs
-
Government’s ‘Humphrey’ AI tool helps local authorities cut costs
News The Minute tool, part of the Humphrey AI assistant, is being trialled at 25 councils
-
Starmer bets big on AI to unlock public sector savings
News AI adoption could be a major boon for the UK and save taxpayers billions, according to prime minister Keir Starmer.
-
UK government targets ‘startup’ mindset in AI funding overhaul
News Public sector AI funding will be overhauled in the UK in a bid to simplify processes and push more projects into development.
-
UK government signs up Anthropic to improve public services
News The UK government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Anthropic to explore how the company's Claude AI assistant could be used to improve access to public services.
-
The UK’s AI ambitions face one major hurdle – finding enough home-grown talent
News Research shows UK enterprises are struggling to fill AI roles, raising concerns over the country's ability to meet expectations in the global AI race.
-
US government urged to overhaul outdated technology
News A review from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found legacy technology and outdated IT systems are negatively impacting efficiency.
-
Government urged to improve tech procurement practices
News The National Audit Office highlighted wasted money and a lack of progress on major digital transformation programmes