Pictured above: Castledine House

Three new tenants have moved into offices on the edge of Ilkeston town centre, with one having a special bond with the premises.

Castledine House on Heanor Road is a £300,000 project led by regeneration agency Erewash Partnership and grant-aided by Derbyshire Economic Partnership.  

One tenant is new company Lacey and Owen Architectural Services. Partner Stuart Lacey project managed the conversion of the premises when he worked for a local construction company before it completed the renovation in July last year.

"It's great to be working in the offices which I had a hand creating," said Stuart.

Stuart has been in the construction industry all his working life since he was an apprentice bricklayer. He has been in the architectural business for nine years, qualifying earlier this year as a chartered architectural technologist.

Colleague Mark Owen has a BSc Hons degree in architectural technology.

The practice is registered with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and works on domestic, commercial and industrial projects. These include a £1m church in High Wycombe, Bucks.

Another new business, Claire Broughton Photography, has snapped up premises for a studio and office.  

Claire has worked in various jobs, latterly as an account manager for an energy supplier, but had an entrepreneurial moment based on her lifelong love of photography.

"I was ready for a change," she said. "I have a creative background and I decided to quit what I was doing and take the plunge.

Previously she worked from home in Breaston but says it a lot easier having a studio in town which is easily accessible for people rather than her having to carry equipment around.

Claire specialises in creative wedding photography, pictures of pets, maternity shots, portraits, band shots, corporate and commercial work and modelling portfolios.

She recently gave her services free to produce pictures for a 2011 calendar for the Teenage Cancer Trust based on 1950s pin-ups.

The third new occupier is Brian Flindall, who runs Credencis, specialising in pensions, investments, equity release and long-term care planning.

An independent financial adviser since 1997, Brian previously worked from home in Long Eaton. But with seeing people nationwide to give advice on pensions and annuities he needed space for help with paperwork and as a base for people to go to.

He employs one person and has another self-employed person to assist.

Brian also runs Viva Debt Solutions, providing counselling to help people with debt problems.

Another two companies have also agreed to take offices subject to contract.

Partnership economic development officer Phil Poulter said: "As an enterprise agency we are delighted to help new and growing businesses find their feet. We are also pleased to be taking on new tenants in these uncertain economic times."

The self-contained, fully-serviced offices are being offered to start-ups and new businesses on 'easy-in and easy-out' terms - flexible packages that mean occupiers do not get tied up with long leases. Tenants benefit from membership of the Partnership.

Erewash MP Jessica Lee will formally open Castledine House on Friday (Sept 17).