Chris Taylor

Programme Manager for Connecting Shropshire, a Shropshire Council Economic Growth infrastructure programme that commenced superfast broadband delivery intervention in 2013. Shropshire is the largest inland county in England with a challenging geography and a wide distribution of premises. To date I have contracted over £40m worth of public sector state aided contracts, securing over £32m of central Government funding. The programme’ s ambition is to connect all premises to superfast broadband through a variety of technology deployments by 2021. A key focus on delivery completion of infrastructure has been stimulation of superfast broadband take up and the optimization of the network by SME’s. I have developed multiple EU funded projects with partners to support SME’s to get improved connectivity via grants and introduced complementary projects that have supported businesses to engage and take up digital services. Throughout delivery I have enabled a strong emphasis on project communication to establish clear roles and stakeholder support. Skills include Project development, creative problem solving, delivery, stakeholder engagement and facilitation.

Background - Local Government Finance/Computer Audit/ICT Programme Management/Contract Management