"Broadband is a saviour"
Mining and Broadband technology are not usually words that go together, but for the Florence Mine Heritage Centre in West Cumbria, the move to Broadband has proved to be a vital part of their success.
Florence Mine is the last deep iron ore mine in western Europe, and is renowned for the good-quality ore (hæmatite) which can be found in the limestone layers. The Heritage Centre offers a mining museum, geology and mineral room, and a research facility - with the jewel in the crown being the opportunity for the public to join a tour of some of the underground areas of the working iron ore mine.
As a top tourist attraction, with over 100 visitors a week, it was important for the Heritage Centre to develop its own website (www.florencemine.co.uk). However, using dial-up caused a number of problems because it was tying up the phone lines, and people were not able to get through with enquiries. It was also costly, as they were paying by the minute.
The Centre's Supervisor, Stuart McCrickard, was keen to get Broadband, and so became an active campaigner in the community to reach BT's trigger levels. After only 4 months of campaigning, including local leaflet drops, they hit the trigger level in November 2003, and were switched on to Broadband in February this year.
As a Charity, the cost savings resulting from the move to Broadband were important. It also allowed more time for research and accessing larger images. In addition, the Heritage Centre takes in unemployed people on the Government's New Deal Scheme. Broadband has meant that they are able to look for full time work more effectively, and that they are not missing out on a job because a website was to slow to load, for example.
"Broadband has been a saviour for us" said Stuart. "It has freed up the lines so that we can respond quickly to phone calls, and has also allowed us to answer enquiries by email - something we could not do effectively before."
Stuart was also quick to move to Broadband at home as well as the office, "I order as much as I can online, especially hardware purchases. When you live in such a remote area, this is the best way to shop, and Broadband makes it easier than ever."