A newly-formed company is the first tenant of premises in Ilkeston town centre that have been created specifically to house new and growing businesses.

Brightsides creative design and internet company has moved into the premises at 3-9 Heanor Road in a £300,000 project led by regeneration agency Erewash Partnership with support from Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership.

Brightsides has moved into the biggest office on the first floor. In all, 11 offices have been created in most of the two upper floors that have been renovated and refurbished in the building which dates back to the turn of the 20th century.

The offices, which will be able to support more than 20 people, are being offered to start-ups and new businesses at a commercial rate on 'easy-in and easy-out' terms - flexible packages that mean occupiers do not get tied up with long leases.

Tenants will benefit from full membership of the Partnership, which has more than 400 supporters from a wide range of public and private sector businesses and the voluntary sector.

Brightsides is made up of technical director Simon Bladon, sales and marketing director Sam Smith with her husband Laurie as consultant.  Senior designer and illustrator Martyn Cain makes up the team.

Laurie said that the new premises were exactly as described - a reasonable-sized office fitted to a good standard, ideal for start-ups.

"We like the fact that will be intermingling with other small businesses, with whom we are able to network," said Laurie.

Phil Poulter, economic development officer at the Partnership, said: "We are delighted that the first tenant is a new business for the area, creating employment in the area. This is just what we are trying to encourage and hope that other tenants will soon follow."

Derbyshire County Council has already taken two rooms for training purposes and there have been expressions of interest from three other companies.

The premises have been named Castledine House in recognition of a former business on the site.

A Mrs Florence Castledine was a successful milliner who founded a firm called Castledines in 1908, moving from Granby Street to 3 Heanor Road in the same year.

Two years later, her husband, a draper, took the adjoining premises at No 5. The premises were extended in 1926 to accommodate a fashion department. A children's outfitting and soft furnishings were added in 1938.

The refurbishment has brought back into commercial use sections which had become derelict and some original features have been sympathetically restored.

A copy of the original plans of Castledine House will be displayed in the building.