A faster future is on the horizon for Borders businesses, following the announcement that local company, GB Technologies, has launched the region’s first digital hub, near St Boswells.
Tweed Horizons Business Centre, a former seminary that includes office suites, communal facilities, meeting rooms and events space, had been under the management of Scottish Enterprise since 1991 before being purchased by GB Technologies in December 2019.
Aligning with their commitment to improve the digital infrastructure for the region’s businesses, the first change made by the IT and Communications company was the installation of a 1GB fibre optic broadband service to the centre. The work was achieved as a result of the strong partnership between GB Technologies and Commsworld, an Edinburgh Based company who specialise in fibre connectivity.
Appreciating that robust connectivity is critical to both businesses based in the centre and for the successful delivery of events hosted on site, the installation ensures high speed broadband which will be deployed throughout the building as part of ongoing improvements to the Centre.
Achieving a smooth transition from one owner to another was important to the GB management team so Managing Director, Mark Moncrieff, spent time with all existing Tweed Horizon’s tenants and employees, all of whom will remain at the centre. Mark said: “Tweed Horizons is a well-established business centre serving the Scottish Borders, but we know that with our expertise in IT and communications we can significantly improve the experience for tenants and those who host events at the centre. This investment marks a new and exciting phase in the growth of our company too, and we have lots of plans for the region’s first Digital Hub.”
The investment in innovation is not the only area of development as the company looks to achieve improvements with energy efficiency too. Working with local company, Renew Green Energy, the digital hub will have a new ground source heat pump and solar panel systems installed to the main building. The two systems will reduce the carbon footprint by an estimated 152 tonnes of C02 each year, the equivalent of planting approximately 770 trees every year.
Professor Russel Griggs OBE, Chair Designate of South of Scotland Enterprise, the new economic development agency for the region that will assume operations on 1 April 2020, said: “The establishment of a digital hub by GB Technologies at the Tweed Horizons Business Centre is most welcome and has the potential to benefit many businesses across the South of Scotland.
“Using and improving digital connectivity is an overarching aim of South of Scotland Enterprise and this will add to other digital hubs that will help drive inclusive growth. South of Scotland Enterprise, through its predecessor the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, has already supported other developments of this type in the region and will continue to do so.”
Talking about the developments with the business, GB Technologies Founder and Chairman, Gordon Brown said: “I am exceptionally proud of what we have achieved, formerly as GB Telecom, and subsequently as GB Technologies, but this next stage in the story of our business is very exciting for us all, taking us into new sectors. We’re delighted that we have already achieved 100% occupancy at Tweed Horizons, with new businesses having already joined us.”
