Cardigan Denim Company has superfast broadband sewn up
A high-end jeans company based in Cardigan, Ceredigion, which has customers across the UK and further afield, is benefiting from superfast broadband, thanks to Superfast Cymru.
Hiut Denim Co was set up in 2012 by David and Clare Hieatt, and is based on Parc Teifi in Cardigan. The company, which employs 18 people, signed up to superfast broadband and now enjoys speeds of 55Mbps at its content factory.
The company’s growth this year has already exceeded last year’s by 42 per cent. Ninety eight per cent of its products are sold direct online with the majority going to customers in the UK, 10 per cent to the American market and 10 per cent to Europe.
David Hieatt, co-founder of Hiut Denim Co, said: “Cardigan has a history of producing jeans, and we were keen to bring this industry back to West Wales using the excellent skills of the workforce here. It’s a great place to have a business and we wanted to bring manufacturing here.
“We operate two factories at Hiut Denim Co. One manufactures the jeans and the other is a content factory to help us sell them. Superfast broadband is absolutely vital. A content factory needs superfast broadband, like a jeans factory needs electricity.
“Having superfast broadband has made a great deal of difference to us. It is easier to market online and keep our customers up to date with latest developments. We use social media a great deal, and have over 10,000 followers on Twitter who want to know the latest news about our product.”
Minister for Skills and Science, Julie James, said: “It’s great to hear about the experiences of companies such as Hiut Denim and the difference superfast broadband has made for them.They have chosen to be based in Cardigan, creating important jobs in the area, and it’s good to see that the rollout of Superfast Cymru is having an impact here.
“Across Wales over 645,000 premises can now access superfast broadband thanks to the programme, and many more will be added before the end of the year.Thanks to Superfast Cymru, Wales has the best availability of superfast broadband among the devolved nations, with more than eight out of ten premises with access.
“It’s important to note that without the intervention of the programme no premises in the county would be able to access superfast broadband. Now over 23,200 can access it.”
Alwen Williams, BT’s regional director for BT Cymru Wales, said: “High-speed connectivity is having an enormous impact on the way we work, live, learn and play.”
“Our Openreach engineers are continuing to work hard to roll-out access to superfast broadband across Ceredigion and Wales and it’s fantastic to see a company like Hiut Denim Co reaping the benefits.
“I’d urge families and businesses to follow in the footsteps of Hiut Denim Co and make the most of this new technology that’s being rolled out by upgrading their services.”
Hiut Denim Co is also one of 12 businesses which are going to be showcased by Facebook this year as part of its small business client council. David took part in a in a question and answer session with Facebook in Cannes in June this year.
Superfast Cymru is the partnership between the Welsh Government, BT, UK Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), bringing faster broadband to areas which would otherwise not receive it.
The Welsh Government also runs the Access Broadband Cymru scheme, which can offer assistance to those not able to access superfast broadband by providing grant aid to help them receive it through other technologies.
Further details are available on www.gov.wales/broadband
