LCR Connect JV partner ITS Technology Group (ITS) officially marked its recent HQ and Network Operations Centre (NOC) move to Daresbury Park, Halton by hosting an ‘Innovation Day’ opened by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram.
The event showcased the significant investment and growth opportunities across Halton and the rest of the Liverpool City Region presented by the £30m 212km LCR Connect full fibre digital infrastructure project that will connect the six local authority areas.
It was a chance to tour the recently commissioned NOC and facilities that have been relocated with ITS’ HQ. The NOC is the monitoring and control centre of ITS’ national full fibre networks, including LCR Connect, ensuring the security, speed and bandwidth of the connectivity services being delivered to businesses and organisations across the city region and the rest of the UK.
The Innovation Day, also attended by Deputy Leader of Halton Borough Council, Cllr Dave Thompson, and newly-appointed Chief Executive, Stephen Young, follows the recent announcement that more than 150 businesses at Sci-Tech Daresbury are the first to benefit from the full fibre network’s phased switch on.
ITS designs, builds, and operates full fibre networks across the UK, and is leading on the delivery of LCR Connect with fellow JV partners Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and French civils firm NGE. With more than 30% of the network already built, it will be completed next year.
It is really exciting to have re-located our HQ and NOC, the nerve centre of ITS’ entire national network footprint including LCR Connect, to Daresbury Park. This move underpins our investment and commitment to the Liverpool City Region and the North West.
LCR Connect has created employment opportunities, and ITS has also grown significantly, more than doubling our headcount in the last twelve months. The Liverpool City Region has a rich talent-base and proximity to great transport links among many benefits. LCR Connect adds to the significant pull the region has for businesses, and for people to live and work.
Our new HQ at Daresbury Park has given us a superbly equipped base to showcase the capabilities of full fibre and how LCR Connect will future-proof the connectivity needs of businesses across all industry sectors.
Dave Hudson head of partnerships and alliances at JV partner ITS Technology Group and CCO of LCR Connect
Any successful, ambitious economy requires the modern, thriving infrastructure that will help it to keep pace in an ever-changing world. LCR Connect is a game-changer for our region, offering businesses access to some of the fastest internet speeds in the country, boosting productivity, and creating thousands of jobs and training opportunities in the process.
It was great to meet the staff – including the apprentices – who are benefiting from those opportunities and helping deliver this vital project.
I want our region to be known as the most digitally connected place in the country to grow a business. Thanks to the investments we’re making now, we’re already on our way to achieving that ambition – it’s impressive to see world-leading innovation taking place and meet some of the people who are making it happen.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Liverpool City Region
The high quality connectivity services that LCR Connect is already delivering to businesses across Halton is essential to help them to take advantage of the technologies that allow them to keep up in a fast-paced world.
This brand new digital infrastructure will play an important role in helping businesses to thrive as well as attracting new investment to the area.
Cllr Mike Wharton, Leader of Halton Borough Council
Also attending the day were guests from Halton including Riverside College and Halton Chamber. For more information about LCR Connect and what full fibre connectivity services are available in the Liverpool City Region, visit: lcrconnect.com
