Liverpool has a rich history steeped in industrial heritage, marked by its bustling docks, factories, and a vibrant shipping industry that once served as the lifeblood of the region. More recently, embracing its resilient spirit, the city has transitioned from its traditional industrial roots to become a flourishing hub for creative and digital industries.
At the heart of this evolution is the Baltic Triangle, a district once dominated by derelict warehouses and abandoned factories. Today, it’s home to a dynamic mix of start-ups, creative enterprises, and digital innovators – standing as a testament to Liverpool’s capacity for reinvention. This remarkable shift has been supported by initiatives like Baltic Creative CIC nurturing the creative and digital ecosystem in the Liverpool City Region.
Baltic Creative CIC was established in 2009 to foster the growth of creative and digital industries. It offers flexible and affordable commercial property to start-ups, micro-businesses, SMEs, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. Baltic Creative has revitalised the area and now hosts over 100 creative and digital businesses across 120,000 square feet of space.
There is no doubting that robust and reliable digital connectivity is central to the success of creative industries. As Baltic Creative have expanded, the demand for reliable and scalable digital connectivity surged. Their previous standard business broadband connection was nearing capacity, unable to meet the increasing bandwidth requirements of tenants engaged in diverse activities like large file downloads, video calls, and data backups. Recognising the necessity for an upgrade, Baltic Creative sought a solution that could support their current needs and future-proof their digital infrastructure.
Baltic Creative turned to LCR Connect, partnering with FACTCO, a local internet service provider and reseller for the network. LCR Connect offers a 10-gigabit connection, using cutting edge XGS-PON technology to offer ultrafast broadband that has significantly enhanced the digital capabilities available to all of Baltic Creative’s tenants. The upgrade to a 10-gigabit connection has transformed Baltic Creative’s digital offering for tenants, providing ultrafast broadband for over 100 companies.
The connection supports all systems at Baltic Creative, from tenant operations to on-site cafes. Some businesses use the connection for card payment systems, while others, such as Ada Academy, leverage it for overnight data backups. The enhanced bandwidth also facilitates the frequent downloading of large art files and supports numerous video calls, addressing the high demand from creative and digital businesses.
Reflecting on the new service, Fran Garforth, Property Officer at Baltic Creative, is clear on the impact the improved connectivity has had: “Businesses need reliable and scalable digital connectivity, and as a flexible workspace provider, we want to offer the best to our tenants. The stability and future-proofing provided by LCR Connect help us attract more bandwidth-heavy users.”
The transition was not just about increased speed and capacity, but also aligning with the broader goal of using local suppliers and supporting the Liverpool City Region’s digital infrastructure. Given this mission to boost local companies, Fran is particularly pleased that Baltic creative have found a connectivity supplier that is from their hometown: “A big thank you to FACTCO who always do a fantastic job. We appreciate having a service provider who is based just a mile away and always on hand when we need them, as well as a network which is locally owned – and half-owned by the people of the region through the Combined Authority. A win-win for keeping our spend in the city region, without missing out on the best quality connectivity.”
Fran also highlights the seamless integration and substantial benefits of the upgrade. “The difference in price compared to what we had previously was so small that we couldn’t say no – they’ve been so supportive,” he said. “It was a small amount extra every month versus a huge increase in our digital capabilities and largely futureproofed us for bandwidth usage.”
Baltic Creative CIC’s partnership with LCR Connect exemplifies how local collaboration and advanced digital infrastructure can drive regional growth. If you want to upgrade your connectivity LCR Connect can scale your bandwidth according to your needs – from 80 megabits per second all the way up to a 10-gigabit connection.
To learn more about when LCR Connect full fibre is coming to your area and access our early bird offers, connect with us today and receive updates relating to our network.
Even if full service is not yet available in your postcode LCR Connect can provide a range of early service solutions and will migrate your connection to the full network within 12 months. Contact LCR Connect today to get ahead of the competition.
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