BRADFORD law firm Mir Solicitors has become one of the area’s first professional services companies to take advantage of a Government-backed voucher scheme to help update business broadband connections.

The Manchester Road-based practice has received funding from Superfast Leeds Bradford, which administers the Government’s SuperConnected Cities scheme.

Mir Solicitors, which has ten staff and specialises in commercial litigation, commercial property and insolvency, has used the vouchers to install kit which has increased its download speeds by more than 400 per cent.

Idris Mir, senior partner, said the investment would help improve service to clients, which range from individuals to large blue chip companies and overseas governments.

He said: “The use of technology is growing among savvier professional firms. As a small practice we’ve always punched above our weight and having the new high-speed internet has certainly boosted our productivity already as well as helping us to make cost savings. The faster connection has also supercharged our service to clients so that they are feeling the benefits as well.

“Having made the shift to high-speed internet, we intend to look at options such as flexible and remote working further down the line. We’re in no doubt that our high-speed internet access moves us up to the next level as a business."

Mark Durham of Superconnected Leeds Bradford said: “Connection vouchers worth up to £3,000, like the one awarded to Mir Solicitors, are proving to be a game changer for professional firms and small businesses across Leeds and Bradford. Over 800 companies have taken advantage of the scheme so far, increasing productivity and creating new jobs across the region, and we’re urging more to sign up.”

The SuperConnected Cities programme has been extended for a further 12 months to March 2016, and an extra £40 million of government funding has been allocated.

Meanwhile, BT’s Superfast West Yorkshire programme has passed the halfway stage with more than 30,000 homes and businesses now able to connect to high-speed fibre broadband .

The multi million pound roll-out is expected to reach a total of 36,463 premises by the end of 2014.

Areas such as Steeton, which previously had no fibre broadband, have been provided with access to high speed services and Cullingworth was among villages recently added.

Engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach, have laid 291 kilometres of fibre optic cable and 49 exchange areas have been upgraded.

Superfast West Yorkshire builds on BT’s investment of £2.5 billion to rollout fibre broadband to two-thirds of UK premises. Bradford , Leeds, Wakefield and Calderdale councils are working with BT to extend high-speed fibre broadband to 97 per cent of households and businesses across most of West Yorkshire by the end of 2015.