LOTS of Wiltshire enterprises are using broadband Internet technology to boost business and now a new initiative has been launched to help more join the high-tech revolution.

Already companies like Calne's seed seller Meadow Mania and Sherston-based Wentworth Jigsaws have jumped on the broadband-wagon and are now reaping the rewards.

In a bid to spread the word, one of the largest public-private sector partnerships ever to be launched in Wiltshire has gone on-line, to take the broadband message to a wider audience.

The eWiltshire and eSwindon campaigns are at the heart of a £7 million Smartplace initiative to create new opportunities for businesses, communities, learners and home users in Wiltshire and Swindon.

The project aims to increase access to broadband for everyone in the county and to help those who already have access to take full advantage of it.

Jane Scott, Smartplace Partnership chairman, said: "Broadband will enable businesses to work smarter, communities to harness the power of online networking and individuals to realise their potential through online learning."

Meadowmania, or MAS Seeds, is a family business which has supplied seeds by mail order for 25 years, and four years ago owner Tim Evans decided to take the business on-line. Ninety-five per cent of catalogue

requests now come via the

Internet.

They upgraded to broadband in October last year and already Mr Evans said he is seeing benefits from the greater speed and accessibility.

"As a small business perhaps our greatest challenge is time," he said. "The speed of broadband helps relieve much pressure."

Wentworth Jigsaws produces over 120,000 uniquely designed puzzles every year and uses broadband for the speedy sending and receipt of large picture files.

Managing director Richard Bridge was quick to recognise the benefits broadband would bring and actively campaigned to ensure that his and other local businesses were not hindered by a rural location.

He set up a broadband-reliant create-a-jigsaw service, allowing customers to upload their own images to an online gallery which the company could then access to produce a custom-made one-off product.

An experience centre opened last week at Cheltenham House, 45 Regent Street, Swindon, above Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society. It opens 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. The centre will give businesses and members of the public the chance to drop in to try out a high-speed internet connection.

Two new websites have also been launched www.eWiltshire.com and www.eSwindon.co.uk as well as a new telephone hotline on 0845 600 3331 to give business and communities access to free information and advice.