Manchester tech quarter to get ultrafast broadband boost

• Virgin Media Business to power Manchester’s Northern Quarter with ultrafast connectivity

• 3,000 businesses across 300 buildings situated in the area will benefit
• Follows the creation of a government-backed technology start-up hub in the Northern Quarter

Virgin Media Business today announced that it will power up to 3,000 businesses in Manchester’s thriving Northern Quarter with ultrafast connectivity, giving a boost to the local economy and business productivity in the area.

New FSB research to highlight importance of Internet access to SMEs

This announcement comes ahead of a report released tomorrow by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) exploring digital demand amongst SMEs and the importance of Internet access to their business. In addition, a study by McKinsey Global Institute estimates that SME productivity could be increased by 10% by doing more online.

Boosting small businesses with 100Mb broadband speeds

Through a package that has been specially designed to support the connectivity needs of businesses located in multi-tenanted buildings, 3,000 businesses co-located in 300 buildings within Manchester’s 9-postcode Northern Quarter will now have access to the fastest, cheapest and most reliable dedicated internet connections

Once the ultrafast fibre is installed directly into the premises, each of the small businesses gets their own dedicated internet connection with equal upload and download speeds. For example, a 1Gb connection will be installed into a building and a business within it can purchase a 50Mb or 100Mb product*. This should meet the basic connectivity needs of many businesses, but for those who require more there are individual leased line options available with speeds of up to 1Gb. Businesses in the area can register their interest by visiting virginmediabusiness.co.uk/techcitymanchester.

Building on success of London’s Tech City

Similar packages were launched earlier this year in London’s Tech City, a technology cluster located in East London.  More than 450 London businesses, located in 70 buildings, are now being connected to Virgin Media Business’s dedicated connections.

Each small business in a building connected with fibre by Virgin Media Business is able to apply for a subsidy from the Government’s SuperConnected Cities scheme.

In his spring budget Chancellor George Osborne announced that the Government will allocate £4 million to establish a technology start-up hub in the Northern Quarter to help create “thriving local ecosystems” similar to those seen in London. This followed on from a report published by Tech Nation earlier this year which highlighted that Greater Manchester has seen a 70 per cent growth in digital companies between 2010 and 2013 with one of the highest average company turnover growth rates in the UK.

Peter Kelly, Managing Director, Virgin Media Business, said: “A central part of any technology hub is reliable, secure high-speed internet. This can make the difference between thriving and merely surviving for small and medium sized businesses so I’m thrilled we’re able to bring Manchester’s vibrant business community our latest package with the fastest broadband speeds.”

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Virgin Media Business’ investment in Manchester is very welcome. Quick, reliable broadband is the backbone of our digital economy, transforming the way businesses operate and the services they can provide. This announcement represents a bespoke ultra-fast broadband package for small and medium enterprises and will help support some of Manchester’s most digitally minded and creative businesses.”

Mike Cherry, FSB Director of Policy said:  "We welcome this new digital investment by Virgin Media Business to boost the broadband connection for several thousand businesses in Manchester. It's vital we encourage economic growth right across the UK, particularly in the Northern Powerhouse where there is so much potential waiting to be unlocked.

“This sort of investment is essential if we are to encourage greater job creation and growth outside London and the South East. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy - it's crucial they continue to get the investment and support they need from larger companies and the Government so they can deliver the jobs and prosperity we all want to see."

Latest multi-million pound investment in Manchester from Virgin Media

In July, Virgin Media also announced a £75m investment in Manchester expanding its ultrafast broadband network to an additional 150,000 homes and businesses bringing total Virgin Media coverage of Manchester to 450,000 premises. Virgin Media is cabling new areas across the region based on the demand from people registering at virginmedia.com/cablemystreet and businesses registering at virginmedia.com/cablemybusiness.

*£199 or £249 monthly fee for a 50Mb or 100Mb connection respectively

Federation of Small Businesses: “Reassured, optimised, transformed: driving digital demand among small businesses” September 2015 [embargoed until 10 September]

McKinsey, Global Institute: “Internet Matters: The Net’s sweeping impact on growth, jobs and prosperity” May 2011. Available at https://www.mckinsey.com/insights/high_tech_telecoms_internet/internet_matters

Tech Nation: “Powering the Digital Economy” February 2015. Available at https://www.techcityuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Tech%20Nation%202015.pdf