ntl:Telewest Business helps Merton Council support small businesses with next generation network

• Ten year converged network contract provides voice and internet

  communications for The Generator, Merton Council’s new business

  incubator

• Benefits South London small business tenants with scalable, flexible

  communications to help them grow

20th August, 2008.  ntl:Telewest Business, the supplier of communications services to the public and private sectors, has today announced that it is providing a full communications infrastructure for The Generator Business Centre, Merton Council’s new small business incubator. Small business tenants at the advanced centre will benefit from access to state of the art, flexible voice telephony and high speed internet access which can be adapted, through the ntl:Telewest Business network, to suit the needs of a business as it grows. The three year contract will run until April 2011.

Located in Mitcham, South West London, The Generator is a long-term project by

Merton Council that aims to increase the rate of small businesses starting and

surviving in the borough. It provides flexible, cost-effective office space to new

businesses combined with access to high quality support services and practical

advice, coaching and mentoring. By cost-effectively removing administration

headaches, The Generator enables young, growing businesses to concentrate on bringing their ideas to market quickly.

The Generator signed its first tenants in March 2008 with the ntl:Telewest Business communications network going live in April 2008. It aims to incubate 100 businesses over its ten year lifecycle and provides space for 21 companies through a combination of offices and light industrial units. Accommodation is flexible – organisations can start by renting a single desk in a multi-occupancy office with all services included and expand as their business grows. The Generator will be officially opened in November 2008, as part of National Enterprise Week.

Nick Smart, Merton Council Economic Development Officer said: ''When we were

planning The Generator we knew that a state of the art telecoms infrastructure would be critical to our tenants’ success. We needed a partner that combined advanced network knowledge with flexibility and the support to ensure we could provide the best possible service. ntl:Telewest Business was the natural choice, listening to our needs and providing help and reassurance every step of the way.”

Merton Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Diane Neil Mills said:

“New businesses are the economic lifeblood of a community. We value the role they play in building a town’s prosperity. Through The Generator Business Centre we want to offer a helping hand to local entrepreneurs. Many new enterprises fail in the early days. Our aim is to give them a head start with their business development so that they will be able to move on after three years to become fully fledged, successful companies standing on their own two feet."

The new network infrastructure comprises Centrex voice communication equipment and internet access. To meet the evolving needs of The Generator’s tenants the initial 10 Mbps service can be extended to 100 Mbps through ntl:Telewest Business’ flexible, local network. This is remotely managed and enables the centre’s new tenants to be cost-effectively set up within 48 hours with full communications services. ntl:Telewest Business’ comprehensive support and guaranteed response times ensure that companies in the centre have the communications required to underpin their success.

John Cunningham, Director of Business Markets, ntl:Telewest Business, said: “The Generator is an innovative and forward thinking initiative from Merton Council. Not many facilities offer the same level of flexibility, support and cost certainty and these advantages will translate into greater small business success in the borough. Advanced communications are at the heart of The Generator, providing the scalable infrastructure to help Merton’s businesses achieve their potential. We look forward to working with The Generator and supporting its tenants’ success.”

Notes to the editor:

About ntl:Telewest Business

ntl:Telewest Business has the most advanced of the UK’s two national

networks. Its vast nation-wide Next Generation Network provides businesses,

public sector organisations and service providers across the UK with a

complete portfolio of advanced data, internet and voice services. The

£13billion network is flexible, scaleable and is already built out to more than

38,000 street cabinets across the UK.As part of a commitment to deliver superior customer service, ntl:Telewest Business sales and support teams are located in close proximity to its customers in over 40 centres across the UK. ntl:Telewest Business is trusted to provide critical communications to high profile

customers including Yorkshire Water and EasyJet.

To subscribe to our press releases please visit:

www.ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk/feeds

ntl:Telewest Business press contacts:

Tara Flanagan ntl:Telewest Business

T: 01256 753101

E: tara.flanagan2@virginmedia.co.uk 

Chris Measures, Press Office

Rainier PR

T: 020 7494 6583
E: cmeasures@rainierpr.co.uk

About The Generator Business Centre

The Generator Business Centre is Merton’s first business incubation centre. It is

located in Mitcham, South West London. The 1,387m2 centre incorporates different kinds of flexible and affordable workspace suited to a variety of business types including offices and light industrial units. Through the centre's WorkSpace scheme entrepreneurs can also rent just a desk or make use of hotdesking facility. The Generator Business Centre is also a one-stop-shop for business advice, support and training.

The Generator Business Centre has been set up to nurture business ideas

particularly in the first three years of the start-up phase and relieve entrepreneurs of the day-to-day management of their premises. This allows them to focus entirely on developing and delivering their product and services. Other services include competitive rates for Internet connection, video conferencing and portable telephone numbers, call answering service.

Companies can lease one or more units for a maximum of three years, giving them time to grow and strengthen their business. After three years, the fledgling

businesses will be expected to move on to other premises and stand independent of The Generator Business Centre. However, businesses are encouraged to maintain contact and act as mentors for other incoming businesses.

To find out more about what The Generator Business Centre can offer,

visit: http://thegenerator.merton.gov.uk or call Tam Williams on 020 8274 5771/2.

Address: The Business Generator Centre, 95 Miles Road, Mitcham CR4 3FH