The Impact of Gigabit Broadband at Cotswold Farm Park

Cotswold Farm Park, located in a picturesque Gloucestershire countryside setting, is not just a farming enterprise but also a thriving tourist destination run by Adam Henson. As a businessman passionate about the Great Outdoors, Adam faced significant challenges in growing his business due to inadequate broadband connectivity in rural areas.

Adam said, "When I heard that thanks to Fastershire, Gigaclear would be passing our gate, that was really quite exciting. They came in, just a trench up the drive, and we clicked into all of our systems, and now we're plugged into full fibre. It's wonderful. Now, when you open up your desktop or your laptop in the morning, and the broadband is there, you can log straight on; everything's at your fingertips and fast."

The benefits of operational efficiency have allowed for seamless online ticketing, which has become essential for growing the business. This has led to an enhanced customer experience. With the ability to manage about 20 tills across the farm, the integration of stock systems and accounts became possible, leading to smoother transactions.

The broadband connection supported online bookings for their holiday lodges, camping, and glamping facilities. The farm now routinely hosts live television and radio broadcasts, enabling direct connections to studios in major cities like Manchester and London.

Gigabit capable broadband has not only facilitated operational improvements but has also placed the business on equal footing with urban competitors. Adam Henson said, "It's really opened our world up as far as the business goes, and we've grown and expanded; we're now welcoming around 185,000 visitors, and it's a wonderful situation to be in. Now our business, we feel, is at parity with those in the city; we can compete, and we can deliver a very good service to all of our customers."

Digihubs at Forest Sensory Services