New businesses, jobs and skills are to be created with the
development of a brand new enterprise centre in Retford,
Nottinghamshire.
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is the major funder of
the enterprise centre, contributing £1.7 million to the
scheme, with the remainder coming from Bassetlaw District
Council.
The new development - which will be constructed to a BREEAM
'excellent' rating - will be located at Randall Way, Retford and
will target start-up businesses, including the key growth sectors
of food, drink, transport equipment and health care.
The building, designed by Jackson Design Associates, will
provide lettable office, workshop and studio space. Its
inspirational and environmentally-friendly design will incorporate
sustainable measures such as ground source heat pumps, sustainable
drainage systems and solar power.
Diana Gilhespy, Executive Director of Regeneration at emda,
said: "The centre will be a great asset to the area, providing an
ideal home for new start-up businesses and creating new job
opportunities for the local community. This will no doubt
contribute towards the future economic upturn of the area which
will be essential in assisting us achieve our aim of becoming a
flourishing region by 2020."
Work has just started on site and is due to be completed by
early summer 2010. The centre will create up to 75 jobs and provide
state of the art accommodation and broadband for up to 18 new
businesses over the next two years. The development will provide a
much-needed boost in an area that has suffered from the decline of
the coal industry and also help stimulate the local construction
industry in these challenging times.
Bassetlaw District Council's Cabinet member for Community
Prosperity, Keith Isard said: "The Enterprise Centre has been in
the pipeline for some time. It's really great to see all the
hard work in planning the project and securing the funding
commitment from those who share the Council's vision for building
the economic future of Bassetlaw has become a reality at last.
"Our own experience with new business startups in
Bassetlaw, backed up by official figures, conclusively shows
providing a platform for growth makes good sense despite the
world's current economic woes.
"The new facility has been designed to target start-up
businesses and will offer low-cost temporary office space, with
access to full administrative services including meeting rooms.
There will also be ample provision for active business support and
training through organisations like Business Link and North
Nottinghamshire College which will be accommodated in the
complex."