The Liverpool City Region is teeming with creativity. One recent report found our creative and digital sector has doubled in size in the last ten years, and it’s predicted to grow more than any other sector in the years ahead.
It would be hard to imagine this success without the vital contribution of pioneering organisations like local social enterprise Make CIC. Established in 2012, they provide collaborative spaces for creative entrepreneurs and the wider community, with their latest premises having just opened in Birkenhead.
LCR Connect is playing its part too. Creativity has always been a collaborative process, and in the modern age that needs rock solid connectivity. We’re proud to have partnered with Make CIC, providing a new free connection to their newest community hub.
Make Hamilton, Birkenhead – a dynamic community for Wirral-based creatives
Based in former housing association offices on Argyle Street, Make Hamilton has undergone a complete refurbishment, using regeneration funds from the Government’s £25m ‘Town Deal’ to invest in the area’s regeneration.
Make Hamilton’s creative studios, open-plan shared workshops and exhibition spaces are occupied by an eclectic mix of artists, makers, musicians, community businesses, and more. And the new building has doubled Make’s available space – providing even more opportunities for Wirral-based creatives and businesses to join this dynamic community.
Many of Make’s current residents – including artists, jewellery makers, fashion designers, and fellow social enterprises – have already moved into the new building. Make CIC’s chief executive, Liam Kelly, explains his hopes for the new hub: “Make has always been about fostering creativity and providing a space where artists and makers can thrive. Our new permanent home on Argyle Street has expanded our capacity and strengthened our commitment to the creative community, ensuring we can continue to support and nurture talent for years to come.”
LCR Connect Community Hubs – free connections to empower the community
The newly refurbished building has cutting-edge gigabit connectivity too, with a 1 gigabit connection provided for free as part of LCR Connect’s social value programme, and installed by local supplier Britannia IT. Dave Ferry, chief commercial officer at LCR Connect, said: “Make CIC is such a great example of a local organisation making a difference in their community. This hotbed of creativity needs cutting-edge connectivity – we’re really pleased that LCR Connect has been able to help by providing a free connection.”
Collaboration was a key part of the process for the installation, as Alex Ashe, Technical Director at Britannia IT explains: “Working together, we were able to plan the installation for the last few weeks of refurbishment when the main contractor was on site. We were able to complete it before the final decoration was finished, to minimise disruption.”
Alex also highlights the importance of the quality of the connection which LCR Connect’s XGS-PON full fibre provides. “With a range of creative and technology-focussed residents, we knew it needed to be high-speed uninterrupted, flawless Wi-Fi,” he said. “We’ve managed to meet those needs by bringing in the brand-new dedicated fibre gigabit line and pairing it with new equipment on every single floor of the building to enable seamless access.”
Make’s marketing and communications manager Amy Higham agrees the connection is already making a difference for residents. “Our community organisations have a lot of people coming in and they really rely on Wi-Fi and a good connection,” she said. “I think it’s much quicker and better than it was in our last space with fewer drop offs.”
The gigabit-capable connection at Make Hamilton is the second Make CIC premises to be connected through LCR Connect’s social value fund. Make CIC have ambitions to expand with premises across the city region, and LCR Connect plans to continue working with them towards having a Community Hub in every local authority area.
Viva la Birkenhead!
One of Birkenhead’s most famous sons, Paul O’ Grady, coined the phrase “Viva La Birkenhead!” to show his pride in the area. We’re proud to see it live on – literally shouted from the rooftop of the signage on the new Make Hamilton building – and we’re sure he would approve of the contribution LCR Connect is making too.
Looking ahead, plans are well underway to open a community café on the ground floor of Make Hamilton in the next few months. Once again, the LCR Connect network will play its part – securely handling card payments and CCTV, and providing public Wi-Fi which can help all visitors get connected.
Creativity runs deeply through our region. With Make Hamilton fully up-and-running, Birkenhead will be worth keeping an eye on for the next big thing, whether it’s a comedian, crafter or musician.
- Find out more about Make Hamilton here: https://makecic.org/make-hamilton/
- And if you’re ready to get creative, click here to find out more about what LCR Connect can do for your creative or digital business.
