Cornish broadband provider Wildanet has officially opened a new headquarters in Liskeard.
The company has renovated historic Westbourne House, which will now be home to around 80 of the company's more than 130 staff, as it continues with a £50m roll-out of its network across the county.
The firm took on the lease of the 20-room, grade-II listed building on West Street - originally built in 1816 for solicitor N.W. Penrose - from Cornwall Council in November 2021.
Chief executive Helen Wylde said the company had been “overwhelmed” by the positive response from local people for reviving the “much-loved landmark”.
Ms Wylde said: “It also gives us the space to grow as a business and continue to invest in the training and development of our people as we expand our network across Cornwall and the South West. [A total of ] 91% of our colleagues come from Cornwall and Devon, and we are passionate about local talent and helping people to be the best they can be.”
Ms Wylde described move as the “brainchild” of Wildanet founder Ian Calvert, who is about to move to a non-executive director role on the company’s board of directors.
Local political and business leaders attended the opening ceremony, including Sheryll Murray and Scott Mann, MPs for South East Cornwall and North Cornwall respectively.
Ms Murray said: “I have been closely following progress on Westbourne House and am delighted at how the building has been transformed. It speaks volumes for Wildanet’s commitment to Cornwall and the local community, and its determination to deliver fast, reliable internet in order to create opportunity for all.”
Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, added: “It’s such a beautiful building and Wildanet have been able to keep the features that have been here for hundreds of years while making it a friendly, high-tech place to work.
“What I’d like to see now is a tax regime to encourage more 21st century businesses like Wildanet into our town centres to repurpose buildings and help make those communities more vibrant in a new and different way.”
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