In a move which will provide it with a valuable publicity platform, the Bury-based data and telecommunications specialist has signed an agreement worth over £15,000 with the popular North West tourist attraction. The deal will see the company being promoted through poster sites at ELR stations, its website, social media, visitor guide and e-communications.
Under the three year deal Pennine has agreed to upgrade the ELR’s telephone system to enable it to make use of the latest internet telephony technology. An Avaya IP Office system will be installed to serve the line’s Bury, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall stations. By enabling communications via the internet this will allow ELR staff to make free calls across the network, cutting costs at an operation which depends upon volunteer support.
Commenting on the sponsorship Pennine Telecom’s sales director Geoff King said: “The East Lancashire Railway is one of the region’s most popular attractions and we are delighted to be able to support them. It’s a win-win agreement with ELR benefiting from a Voice over IP telephone solution and Pennine being able to reach the many thousands of visitors the ELR attracts every year. It’s also a deal that lets us further support our town and community.”
Pennine’s backing was also gratefully acknowledged by East Lancashire Railway director, Malcolm Vickers, who said: “Without the support of our volunteers and community-minded businesses like Pennine Telecom, the East Lancashire Railway would not be the hugely successful attraction it is. By sponsoring us and helping reduce our operational costs through internet telephony, Pennine is freeing up funds which can be used to improve and expand our service and further boost our annual visitor numbers which are already well in excess of 144,000”
The support given to the ELR follows Pennine’s sponsorship of another of Bury’s key tourist attractions. In 2009 the company sponsored the Fusiliers Museum, donating and installing a £16,000 Avaya telephone system, wireless network and two-way radio system. Other community-minded initiatives include sponsorship of last month’s International Youth Sports Festival hosted in Bury. Pennine installed wireless hubs at venues and schools across the town which enabled participants from five European towns to use social networking sites, internet telephony and email to stay in touch with family and friends back home. It also provided two-way radios to help stewarding of the Olympic torch relay which took place in Bury at the same time.