Superfast Broadband boost is the bee’s knees for businessman

A Meigle honey packer is hoping to see a boost in global trade thanks to the expansion of fibre broadband across rural areas.

Andrew Scarlett, who runs Scarlett’s Honey, said it would now be easier for him to sell his produce around the world.

He said: “We are running a global business, so fast, effective communications are vital to the smooth running of the operation.

“Before we had superfast fibre broadband, we used to really struggle.”

Mr Scarlett said the new faster service was already paying dividends for his company.

“It is enabling us to compete on a level playing field with other businesses in less rural locations and trade internationally from our small hamlet in the Perthshire countryside,” he said.

“To comply with food standards accreditation, every pallet that leaves the yard needs to have paperwork to show it has been tested and include customer specific information.

“Before we had fibre broadband, we would often have lorries sitting in the yard for ages while they had to wait for us to download and print off the necessary paperwork.

“Now this can all happen seamlessly online.”

Mr Scarlett welcomed infrastructure and connectivity minister Michael Matheson on a visit to mark the latest milestone for the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband programme.

The scheme has increased access to fibre broadband for much of Scotland, giving more than 900,000 homes and businesses full access to faster internet connections and making it easier for rural businesses to sell online.