Doncaster tech business generates growth with superfast broadband

A Doncaster-based technology business has won new contracts and is set to create four new jobs after becoming the first company to connect to superfast broadband through the recently launched Superfast South Yorkshire connection voucher scheme.

Zead designs and installs Wi-Fi networks for leisure sector clients, and specialises in supplying inland and coastal marinas across the UK.

But with slow broadband speeds of only around 400kbps at the it’s Doncaster base, the business struggled to deliver rapid and comprehensive service and was reliant on costly and inefficient satellite and mobile technology to host its sites.

Ian Addison, Zead director, said: “The really slow internet service was putting a brake on us being able to run the business efficiently and meant it was impossible to plan for future growth. We were reliant on satellite and mobile for our internet, which put tremendous pressure on the business and also forced us to outsource many of our services. Basically the situation was unsustainable.”

Zead is now the first business to receive a high-speed internet connection under the government’s South Yorkshire Connection Voucher scheme, which launched in April.

The company qualified for funding of £800, which covered the connection cost of installing the new fibre-optic broadband line. Since the new connection, carried out by local supplier Origin Broadband, speeds have been boosted to 76mbps download and 20mbps upload, transforming the way the business operates.

Mr Addison added: “Getting connected to high-speed broadband has completely changed things for us as a business and has really opened up new possibilities. We now have the capacity to meet all our clients’ needs in-house, and even have our own servers - saving us £400 a month previously spent on rented space in a data centre. By advising us of what could be achieved, Origin Broadband made this possible. Everything was very well organised, and the install went smoothly and on schedule.”

Since installing the faster broadband connection, Zead has won several new commissions, including a new contract to supply Wi-Fi across all of marina services group ABC Leisure’s 40 UK marinas, hotels, pubs and holiday apartments.

Oliver Bryssau, Origin Broadband managing director, added: “Decent broadband speeds are essential to most businesses these days and, thanks to the connection voucher scheme they have suddenly become a lot more affordable to local businesses here in in South Yorkshire.”

Natalie Ward, programme manager at Superfast South Yorkshire, also commented: “It’s fantastic to see the immediate impact that the connection voucher can bring to a business. New businesses across South Yorkshire are now signing up every day and we are urging anyone who thinks their business might qualify to get in touch before the scheme closes next year. It’s a simple process and the effects on businesses can be transformational.”