Case Study – The Factory

WG22937 / Crown Copyright 2014

The Factory, formally known as the Pop Factory is a multi-purpose building situated in Porth. Not only is it a music venue with capacity for 300 people, it contains an art gallery, hosts local learning events and even rents office space to local businesses.

Valleys Kids purchased this iconic building in 2011 which was once the home of Corona Pop. Now it is a dynamic hub of diverse creative organisations and the delivery home for one of the Community Enterprise Network agents. Elise Stewart is responsible for managing the building and planning events. Along with her team, Elise works with local people to help them to realise their potential by developing skills and providing a creative space to share ideas. Forging an enterprising culture is a key initiative behind the space to raise prosperity amongst communities in Rhondda Cynon Taff and beyond.

The challengeAs a hive of creativity and innovation, there was a huge appetite for superfast broadband. So much so that Elise and her team experienced frustrations internally and in addition, amongst those they were there to support as connection issues caused problems on a daily basis. Prior to superfast fibre, upload speeds caused many problems, preventing staff from completing work and learners from finishing their programmes on time. The Factory houses businesses and learners that work with rich content that they need to access, manipulate and move effectively and efficiently.

The solutionThe business moved to fibre broadband in June 2014. The team had been following the Superfast-cymru roll out programme closely and were delighted when

it arrived at Porth. Since taking up a fibre broadband package with their ISP, speed has not been an issue at all.

Elise has already made plans to bring about further improvements in the future with Cloud Computing, flexible working for employees and wi-fi. She says these developments are already underway and if they weren’t, the business wouldn’t be where they need it to be. Elise went onto say that FTTC makes all of this possible!

In Elise’s own words: “You probably know what you are missing already if you deal in rich content without enhanced speed but on getting it you’ll realise the very real and tangible difference it makes – it is a no brainer economic necessity: a must for all businesses that want to operate in the knowledge based economy.”

How it helped Increased efficiency as the team have all become a

lot more agile due to the enhanced opportunity provided by fibre

The business runs far more effectively and learners receive a more professional, effective service

Increased staff morale as no more waiting around “People smile a lot more now”

This meant Cost and productivity savings

• Greater employee engagement• Future proofing the business

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WG22937 / Hawlfraint y Goron 2014

Astudiaeth Achos – Y FfatriAdeilad amlbwrpas yn y Porth yw’r Ffatri, neu’r Ffatri Bop fel y’i gelwid gynt. Mae’n fan lle gellir cynnal digwyddiadau cerddorol ar gyfer hyd at 300 o bobl, ond mae ynddo hefyd Oriel Gelf a lle i gynnal digwyddiadau dysgu. Mae hyd yn oed yn rhentu swyddfeydd i fusnesau lleol.

Prynodd Plant y Cymoedd yr adeilad eiconig hwn, a arferai fod yn gartref i Gwmni Pop Corona, yn 2011. Mae bellach yn ganolfan i’r amryfal sefydliadau creadigol sydd wedi ymgartrefu yno ac mae’n gartref hefyd i un o asiantiaid y Rhwydwaith Menter Cymunedol. Elise Stewart sy’n gyfrifol am reoli’r adeilad a chynllunio digwyddiadau. Mae Elise a’i thîm yn gweithio gyda phobl leol i’w helpu i wireddu eu potensial drwy feithrin eu sgiliau a thrwy ddarparu gofod creadigol lle maen nhw’n cael cyfle i rannu syniadau. Mae meithrin diwylliant o fentro yn agwedd hollbwysig ar y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud i greu cymunedau mwy ffyniannus yn Rhondda Cynon Taf a’r ardaloedd cyfagos.

Yr herGan fod y ganolfan yn ferw o greadigrwydd ac arloesedd, roedd galw mawr am fand eang cyflym iawn. Wrth i broblemau’n ymwneud â chysylltedd ddod i’r amlwg yn ddyddiol, profodd Elise a’i thîm gryn rwystredigaeth, ac felly hefyd y bobl yr oedden nhw yno i’w helpu. Cyn dyfodiad cysylltiadau ffibr cyflym iawn, roedd diffyg cyflymder wrth lanlwytho yn achosi llawer iawn o broblemau, gan atal y staff rhag gorffen eu gwaith a dysgwyr rhag cwblhau eu rhaglenni mewn da bryd. Mae’r Ffatri yn gartref i fusnesau a dysgwyr sy’n gweithio gyda chynnwys cyfoethog ac mae angen iddyn nhw fedru cael gafael ar y cynnwys hwnnw, a’i drin a’i symud mewn modd effeithiol ac effeithlon.

Yr atebDechreuodd y busnes ddefnyddio band eang ffibr ym mis Mehefin 2014. Roedd y tîm wedi bod yn cadw llygad

barcud ar y broses o gyflwyno rhaglen Cyflymu Cymru ac wrth ei fodd pan gyrhaeddodd y rhaglen honno’r Porth. Ers iddyn nhw fanteisio ar y pecyn band eang ffibr a gynigir gan eu Darparwr Gwasanaethau Rhyngrwyd, ni fu arafwch yn broblem o gwbl.

Mae Elise wrthi eisoes yn cynllunio i wella gwasanaethau ymhellach yn y dyfodol drwy gyflwyno Cyfrifiadura Cwmwl, oriau gweithio hyblyg a wi-fi. Mae’r datblygiadau hynny ar droed eisoes a phe na baent, dywedodd Elise na fyddai’r busnes yn y sefyllfa y mae angen iddo fod. Aeth Elise yn ei blaen hefyd i ddweud mai cysylltiad ffeibr i’r cabinet wnaeth y cwbl yn bosibl.

Yng ngeiriau Elise ei hun: “Mae’n debyg eich bod yn gwybod eisoes bod rhywbeth ar goll os ydych chi’n trin cynnwys cyfoethog heb gysylltiadau cyflym, ond unwaith y cewch chi’r cysylltiadau hynny, rydych chi’n sylweddoli eu bod yn gwneud gwahaniaeth aruthrol – maen nhw’n gwbl angenrheidiol yn economaidd: rhywbeth y mae’n rhaid i bob busnes ei gael os yw am weithio yn yr economi sy’n seiliedig ar wybodaeth.”

Helpodd hyn drwy Sicrhau bod y tîm yn fwy effeithlon a hyblyg

oherwydd y gwell cyfleoedd sy’n dod yn sgil cysylltiadau ffibr

Gwneud y busnes yn fwy effeithiol o lawer a sicrhau bod dysgwyr yn cael gwasanaeth mwy proffesiynol ac effeithiol

Gwella ysbryd y staff ac nid oes angen aros o gwmpas bellach. “Mae pobl yn gwenu llawer mwy ’nawr”

Arweiniodd hyn at Arbedion o ran cost a chynhyrchiant

• Gweithwyr yn ymroi mwy i’w gwaith• Y busnes wedi’i ddiogelu at y dyfodol

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