TECHNOLOGY experts from Ilkley have given their backing to a Keighley arts charity.

Craftscale offered its services for free when Keighley Creative was in need of help.

The family business – which advises small firms and start-ups that don't have their own IT experts – installed a Microsoft operating system across all the charity's devices and set up the necessary networking, Cloud and security software and apps.

Keighley Creative – based at Cooke Lane, in the town centre – needed assistance with developing its technology provision after appointing several new team members, including executive director Riaz Meer and creative director Paula Clark.

Ian Smith, managing director of Ilkley-based Craftscale, says: "When Keighley Creative got in touch, we were happy to help.

"As technologists, setting up laptops and networking devices is something we are well placed to help with.

"We offered to do it for no charge as we value the work of Keighley Creative in bringing arts and cultural experiences to the community – an area where I also have a personal interest."

Ian co-organises an annual music festival, Ilkley Live, alongside its founder Dan Hammond.

The festival is in its fourth year, and is going from strength to strength.

This year's event, in July, featured more than 90 performances.

Key to the festival is an innovative website provided by Craftscale. It gives visitors the chance to create a personal schedule for the event weekend, by choosing their own selection of performances. The website this year attracted over 4,000 hits.

Ian adds: "The festival is all about connecting musicians, audiences and venues within Ilkley so that everyone in the town can benefit from live music. Anyone able to play or sing can get involved, even if it’s just performing in a garden! Our ethos is to make it totally community-run, so anybody can put on a show!"

Craftscale provides bespoke support to a range of businesses and organisations covering a variety of areas such as managing IT suppliers, moving websites to new servers and recommending equipment.

The firm's newest recruit is Ian's 16-year-old son, Tom, a Microsoft expert.

Anyone seeking further information about Ilkley Live or Craftscale can contact Ian on ian@craftscale.uk or 07966 360078.

For more details about Keighley Creative, and its activities and events programme, email Helena Dowsland on helena@keighleycreative.org