New digital hub at Newtown will help meet businesses’ need for speed online

An IT and telecommunications company has launched the region’s first digital hub to help meet Borders businesses’ need for speed online.
At Tweed Horizons, from left, are Mark Moncrieff, June Wilson, Gordon Brown of GB Technologies, MSP Rachael Hamilton, enterprise agency head Russel Griggs and Phil Morris of GB Technologies.At Tweed Horizons, from left, are Mark Moncrieff, June Wilson, Gordon Brown of GB Technologies, MSP Rachael Hamilton, enterprise agency head Russel Griggs and Phil Morris of GB Technologies.
At Tweed Horizons, from left, are Mark Moncrieff, June Wilson, Gordon Brown of GB Technologies, MSP Rachael Hamilton, enterprise agency head Russel Griggs and Phil Morris of GB Technologies.

The Tweed Horizons business centre at Newtown was bought by GB Technologies in December, and its first move after sealing that deal was to install a 1GB fibre-optic broadband service.

That work was carried out in partnership with Commsworld, an Edinburgh-based company specialising in fibre connectivity, to ensure high-speed broadband is available throughout the centre.

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A smooth transfer from one owner to another was important to GB Technologies’ management team, so managing director Mark Moncrieff has spent time with all Tweed Horizons’ existing tenants and employees, all of whom are remaining at the centre.

He said: “Tweed Horizons is a well-established business centre serving the 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.”

That investment in better broadband isn’t the only improvement on the horison either as the company is also looking to make the centre more energy-efficient.

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Galashiels-based Renew Green Energy is to install a new ground-source heat pump and solar panel systems.

Those two innovations will reduce the centre’s carbon footprint by an estimated 152 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of planting almost 800 trees.

The creation of the digital hub has been welcomed by Russel Griggs, chairman designate of South of Scotland Enterprise, the new economic development agency for the region due to get up and running at the start of next month.

He 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.

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“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.”

GB Technologies founder and chairman Gordon Brown added: “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.”