A BRADFORD business centre has become one of Yorkshire’s best- connected office developments after more than £100,000 was invested in high speed broadband.

Nearly half of businesses at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham have so far signed up for high-speed internet connection through the Government-backed Superconnected West Yorkshire programme.

The centre, home to more than 80 businesses, charities and social enterprises, now has a dedicated 1Gb capacity fibre system and high speed wi-fi accessible as a result of the £100,000grant.

Sam Keighley, centre chief executive, said: “For the businesses based here, superfast connectivity creates the ideal environment they need to grow and create new jobs in Bradford, and it is already providing an economic boost to the city.

"We provide office accommodation and being able to offer businesses high speed internet connectivity, funded by up to £3,000 under the Superconnected Cities scheme, puts us on another level in terms of our appeal to potential tenants.”

Businesses signing up include recruiter Trident Resourcing, Learnwise ESOL Centre and Excel Vehicle Leasing. Dave Gomersall, telecoms data specialist at IUT group LDD, which installed the new system, said: “We have now connected 44 businesses across West Yorkshire to superfast internet under the Superconnected West Yorkshire programme Bradford and we constantly hear from businesses that high speed internet is having a transformational effect and triggering a step change in productivity. It’s so simple to do and I’d urge any eligible organisations to sign up and get superconnected.”

Part of government’s £100 million Superconnected Cities programme, it has extended to SME's in West Yorkshire and Craven, in addition to Bradford and Leeds. More than 2,000 businesses have connected, the highest take-up outside London.

John Duncan, of Superconnected West Yorkshire, said: “The £100,000 of joint applications at Carlisle Business Centre will directly boost the capability of these Bradford businesses, enabling them to compete successfully and employ more people. There is tremendous momentum. behind the scheme now. Landlords can connect a whole multi-tenanted property by using a joint application." By clubbing together to receive a large grant, not only do tenants receive a free connection, it also means that the monthly costs can be shared, so businesses can receive a high quality, business grade line, for a reasonable monthly fee.”