03
Dec
How Sure Business Systems solved a connectivity crisis for North West Fire Solutions when everyone else walked away.
The Challenge
North West Fire Solutions are specialists in passive fire protection services; including fire risk assessments, fire door surveys, and fire safety training across the North West.
Their expertise keeps businesses legally compliant and helps them safeguard the livelihoods of their occupants. With so much at stake, decent connectivity is essential for their daily operations.
Based in Egerton House, a large multi-occupancy office building on the Wirral, North West Fire Solutions were operating on a shared internet service rather than direct fibre to each tenant. Then they relocated within the building, and it got much worse with the internet dropping in and out and being very slow.
Everyone Else Said No
When North West Fire Solutions approached a major national provider for a dedicated business connection, they got the answer we hear too often: “Sorry, can’t get fibre in there.”
Big providers don’t want to deal with fibre access, shared infrastructure, and complex building management. It’s easier for them to say No than think outside the box and come up with custom solutions.
But that’s exactly what we do. We believe every single business deserves proper internet, regardless of their location or circumstances.
The LCR Connect Solution
While the big boys were declining the installation, we knew there was another route. Through our partnership with LCR Connect, we could get North West Fire Solutions connected to its Fibre ONE network, providing the dedicated business-grade service they required.
Unlike the national providers who struggle with complex installations or decline difficult jobs, LCR Connect specialises in finding solutions. Its Fibre ONE network delivers symmetrical speeds up to 10Gbps, with guaranteed bandwidth and genuine business-class SLAs (service level agreements) that actually mean something.
However the installation hit a significant technical snag. The premise wasn’t showing as a valid address on BT’s Postcode Address File (PAF), and couldn’t be matched against LCR Connect’s coverage database. Without this match, the automated provisioning system rejected the order.
The Address Validation Problem
This can occur in commercial buildings where the postal address structure doesn’t align with how telecommunications infrastructure is recorded. BT’s database had the building listed differently from LCR Connect’s records, creating a mismatch that prevented the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) from being correctly identified.
The LCR Connect network was physically available (the fibre was literally in the building) but the provisioning systems couldn’t complete the order. Manual intervention was needed to align the address records between BT’s PAF database and LCR’s coverage mapping.
Delays, Delays and More Delays
What followed was a frustratingly long delay while BT’s address validation team worked to reconcile its records with LCR Connect’s database. This wasn’t a quick fix – it took weeks of back-and-forth between multiple departments, engineering teams, and database administrators.
Throughout this period, we were constantly on the phone to BT, chasing updates and pushing for resolution. Every few days it was ‘still being looked into’, ‘escalated to the next level’, ‘awaiting a database update’, or ‘required an engineer visit’.
Most importantly, we kept North West Fire Solutions informed along the way. No radio silence, no false promises – just honest updates about what was happening and realistic timescales for resolution. Because when you’re dealing with a business that needs connectivity, transparency is everything.
Many providers would have walked away or suggested the customer ‘try again later’. We didn’t. We kept pushing because we knew the infrastructure was there and the solution was achievable – it just needed someone willing to see it through.
Getting Everyone to Work Together
Eventually, we got all parties aligned: BT’s address validation team updated its PAF records, LCR Connect’s provisioning system accepted the corrected UPRN, and the installation could finally proceed.
It required manual intervention at multiple points in the supply chain, but we got it sorted.
That’s the difference between a company that just sells broadband and one that actually solves problems. We don’t walk away when things get complicated.
The Results
North West Fire Solutions now has 160Mbps of dedicated, uncontended bandwidth – a transformational upgrade that truly supports their business operations. It now benefits from guaranteed speeds with genuine business-grade reliability.
Even better, LCR Connect provided free installation and a free router as part of their commitment to supporting local businesses. This isn’t just lip service; it genuinely invests in the success of its customers.
When Others Walk Away, We Find a Way
The North West Fire Solutions story is exactly what Sure Business Systems is about. We don’t just install standard connections – we solve connectivity problems that others won’t touch.
Multi-occupancy building with no direct fibre? We’ll find another route. Heritage building where you can’t attach equipment? We’ll put it somewhere else. Unadopted road where no one will dig? Satellite solution sorted.
Because every single business deserves proper internet. And when everyone else says it can’t be done, we find a way.
Got a tricky connectivity challenge? Get in touch. www.surebusiness.co.uk