Lottery Boost For E-quest

Tue 7 Oct 2008

Matt Hartill has given his Newport business a boost thanks to the Isle of Wight Lottery.
Matt, owner of the E-Quest internet and gaming centre on Scarrots Lane, got a Lottery loan six years ago, enabling him to open the doors to customers for the first time.
Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, and Matt has now been awarded a further interest free loan to help him acquire new higher resolution computer monitors, which use less power and are more environment friendly.
Matt said: “The Isle of Wight Lottery has been very supportive and helpful from day one. I got an interest free loan to help me set up, and this latest one has come at a very good time, helping me to improve the service I provide to customers, and spread the cost.”
E-Quest operates as an internet café and also as a gaming centre, but the charge for using a computer is the same - £1.50 an hour, or £10 for a day pass.
“Business is really good,” said Matt, who has acquired the freehold of the building and is now considering plans for expansion. “We get people of all ages coming in to use the internet, and many are tourists, but others just don’t have a computer at home. Gaming is increasingly popular, and players like coming here because they can compete against their friends using a fast broadband connection.
“I’d recommend any business to talk to the Isle of Wight Lottery. Staff there are really helpful and the loans have certainly made a big difference to me.”

The Isle of Wight Lottery has recently launched new weekly prizes of £2,000, £300 and £200. All profits are ploughed into a fund which supplies interest free loans to new or expanding businesses.