ntl:Telewest Business helps Merton Council support small businesses with next generation network

Published 20th August 2008

• Three year converged network contract provides voice and internet communications for The Generator, Merton Council’s new business incubator
• Benefits South London small business tenants with scalable, flexible communications to help them grow

ntl:Telewest Business, the supplier of communications services to the public and private sectors, has today announced that it is providing a full communications infrastructure for The Generator Business Centre, Merton Council’s new small business incubator. Small business tenants at the advanced centre will benefit from access to state of the art, flexible voice telephony and high speed internet access which can be adapted, through the ntl:Telewest Business network, to suit the needs of a business as it grows. The three year contract will run until April 2011.

Located in Mitcham, South West London, The Generator is a long-term project by Merton Council that aims to increase the rate of small businesses starting and surviving in the borough. It provides flexible, cost-effective office space to new businesses combined with access to high quality support services and practical advice, coaching and mentoring. By cost-effectively removing administration headaches, The Generator enables young, growing businesses to concentrate on bringing their ideas to market quickly.

The Generator signed its first tenants in March 2008 with the ntl:Telewest Business communications network going live in April 2008. It aims to incubate 100 businesses over its ten year lifecycle and provides space for 21 companies through a combination of offices and light industrial units. Accommodation is flexible – organisations can start by renting a single desk in a multi-occupancy office with all services included and expand as their business grows. The Generator will be officially opened in November 2008, as part of National Enterprise Week.

Nick Smart, Merton Council Economic Development Officer said: ''When we were planning The Generator we knew that a state of the art telecoms infrastructure would be critical to our tenants’ success. We needed a partner that combined advanced network knowledge with flexibility and the support to ensure we could provide the best possible service. ntl:Telewest Business was the natural choice, listening to our needs and providing help and reassurance every step of the way.”

Merton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Diane Neil Mills said: “New businesses are the economic lifeblood of a community. We value the role they play in building a town’s prosperity. Through The Generator Business Centre we want to offer a helping hand to local entrepreneurs. Many new enterprises fail in the early days. Our aim is to give them a head start with their business development so that they will be able to move on after three years to become fully fledged, successful companies standing on their own two feet."

The new network infrastructure comprises Centrex voice communication equipment and internet access. To meet the evolving needs of The Generator’s tenants the initial 10 Mbps service can be extended to 100 Mbps through ntl:Telewest Business’ flexible, local network. This is remotely managed and enables the centre’s new tenants to be cost-effectively set up within 48 hours with full communications services. ntl:Telewest Business’ comprehensive support and guaranteed response times ensure that companies in the centre have the communications required to underpin their success.

John Cunningham, Director of Business Markets, ntl:Telewest Business, said: “The Generator is an innovative and forward thinking initiative from Merton Council. Not many facilities offer the same level of flexibility, support and cost certainty and these advantages will translate into greater small business success in the borough. Advanced communications are at the heart of The Generator, providing the scalable infrastructure to help Merton’s businesses achieve their potential. We look forward to working with The Generator and supporting its tenants’ success.”