Business editor Colette Flowerdew-Kincaid takes us on a tour of 250-employee hosting provider Fasthosts Internet’s new premises at The Forum’s 2 Cathedral Walk building in Gloucester.
Speaking to new-in-role managing director Rupert Bedell and MP for Gloucester Alex McIntyre, she finds out why it was important for the business to stay in Gloucester, how the Forum development ties in with the city’s wider regeneration plans, and how Fasthosts plans to double its revenue growth in 2025.
Speaking to new-in-role managing director Rupert Bedell and MP for Gloucester Alex McIntyre, she finds out why it was important for the business to stay in Gloucester, how the Forum development ties in with the city’s wider regeneration plans, and how Fasthosts plans to double its revenue growth in 2025.
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00:00So, I'm Rupert Burdell, a fast host internet here in Gloucester.
00:17Yeah, that was a big decision for us.
00:19We had alternative sites that we looked at which would have taken us out of the city.
00:24In hindsight, it was definitely the right move to stay in Gloucester.
00:27I think it's right for our employees, but I think it's right for the town as well.
00:31You know, Gloucester is not without its social challenges and economic challenges.
00:35And actually, having moved into the site, you realize how important it is that we have
00:38a Gloucester-based business taking residents in the forum, and hopefully we can give something
00:43back to the city as well.
00:45We're really motivated to make sure that we are part of the local community, that we have
00:49close relationships with local media, but also we're starting to foster links with local
00:54universities, with customers in the area, and small businesses to make sure that they
00:58can use this site, and it's not just the HQ of fast hosts that nobody ever gets to see
01:03inside.
01:04The light.
01:05You can probably see behind me, we're up on the fourth floor.
01:07We've got views over Gloucester and the hills around.
01:10Thankfully, it's a sunny day and we're really feeling the benefit of it.
01:14But compared to where we've been, the natural light and space is just fantastic here.
01:18And you can see it in employees, everybody's walking a little bit taller.
01:22There's quite a difference it makes having a nice, light, bright, contemporary space.
01:53I'm Alex McIntyre, I'm the MP for Gloucester.
01:56I mean, this is a fantastic vote of confidence in our city.
02:00Fast hosts, as they've said today, had options to go elsewhere, but they saw the potential
02:04in Gloucester just like I do as newly elected MP, and this is a fantastic building and a
02:09real opportunity for them to expand and grow their business in an amazing environment here
02:14in the forum.
02:15There's so many things that have been started under the last government which we're carrying
02:19on with, and there's going to be more to come.
02:21We've made economic growth one of our core targets as this new government, and I'm really
02:26keen to make sure that we feel the benefit of that here in Gloucester.
02:29So part of my job as the MP is to make sure that we're driving investment into the city,
02:33that we're seeing investment from government as well, and we secured more money for the
02:37Eastgate development in the city centre just in the budget last year.
02:41We've seen money invested in new housing in the city centre on Great Western Road, which
02:44you can almost see behind me.
02:46And we're really focused on making sure that we turn Gloucester into the best possible
02:50place to live and work.
02:52We had a very good 2024.
02:54We grew our revenue faster than we have done in the previous 10 years.
02:58We particularly had a good quarter four.
02:59We grew our new customer numbers by record amounts in September, October, November.
03:04So we're riding a nice wave at the moment.
03:07We think that we can maybe double that revenue growth in 2025 if things go well.
03:13And yeah, we're always bringing out new products and keeping our customers happy.
03:18Our service scores are higher than they've ever been.
03:20So it's really about maintaining that momentum and continuing to grow as one of the leading
03:24tech companies in the UK.
03:27It's coming for sure.
03:29I see more and more kind of talk about Gloucester being a tech hub or Gloucestershire as a region.
03:36The formation of the digital forum is a big step in that direction.
03:39I'd like to see more other organizations moving into the forum, other tech organizations,
03:44which I think would just contribute to a fantastic environment.
03:47But yeah, Gloucester has set out its vision.
03:50It seems to be taking shape.
03:51There's more positive news that I'm seeing around developments in the city.
03:55And yeah, hopefully that continues to attract private enterprise and in particular technology
03:59firms, which we'd love to have as neighbors.