ForgeStudios, based in the centre of Allendale, houses a co-operative group of volunteers, producers, artists and makers promoting small businesses and the beautiful North Pennines landscape. With twelve working studios, a café, art gallery and gallery shop all in the building, there is a great need for a fast and reliable connection.

Amanda Galbraith, founder and Managing Director at the Forge, explains how she feels the businesses at the Forge will benefit.

“In 2007, when I first proposed the development due to the lack of studio space in the area, I would never have expected the huge strides we’ve made in supporting small businesses and the development of Allendale as a whole. We aim to not only house small businesses, but support them in any way that we can.
While our broadband has never been terribly slow at 6mbps, we have several businesses relying on the connection for a variety of reasons that require a fast connection. When we found out fibre broadband was available in Allendale, we took the opportunity to upgrade immediately and after an engineer visit, we receive a connection upwards of 70mbps – over ten times faster!

Small businesses rely heavily on being able to both market and sell their products online, as well as stay in touch with suppliers. One of our students taking part in our Young Rural Entrepreneurs Scheme, James, is a designer and needs to upload large files to send to prospective clients. We also have businesses video conferencing with existing and prospective international clients – something that would be much more difficult with slower broadband.

Now our superfast broadband is just another reason that people want to work in one of our studios. Small business owners in the surrounding areas that are not fortunate enough to receive fibre broadband yet don’t have to go to the city to be able to successfully run their business online. Just this week we have been discussing the use of one of our studios with a small business owner keen to utilise our superfast broadband.”

Superfast broadband is available to order in Allendale and many other areas in Northumberland. For more information on Allendale Forge Studios, please click here.