Pictured above: (l-r) Sue Gordon (360e Director) , Billy Boyd (Mayor of Kirton-in-Lindsey), John Owens, (360e Director) and Pete Sawyer (360e Office Manager)

Two growing Lincolnshire firms are spreading their wings after successfully getting started at Oak House Business Centre in Lincoln.

Specialist payroll company MyPay is rapidly expanding and will move from Oak House to new premises at The Point Business Park on Weaver Road just outside Lincoln on 6th September 2010.

MyPay is following in the footsteps of another growing business, IT and e-commerce consultancy and training firm 360e Ltd, which made the same move in the summer.

MyPay specialises in payroll services for short-term contractors and agency workers and its client base is growing by 15 per cent every week.

"I set up the business in February with £20,000 of my own money and it's grown amazingly quickly," said Director Lee Wilson. "There's a ripple effect as contractors tell their friends and acquaintances and we're really growing strongly.

"We have four staff at present and moving to larger premises will allow me to take on two more."

Lee says the help he received from Lincolnshire County Council in the early days was invaluable.

"I was working in Gainsborough and knew about the council's innovation workspaces at Mercury House, but I wanted to set up my business in Lincoln and was shown round Oak House," he said.

"I negotiated a favourable rent option for the first three months which gave me the cashflow I needed to set up. Renting in the private sector is less flexible and you also have to take care of your own telephone lines and IT.

"Walking into Oak House and negotiating on the rent was a very easy way to start the business."

John Owens and Sue Gordon decided to relocate 360e in May after two years at Oak House.

"We originally set up the business as virtual tenants at Sparkhouse Studios, but after 18 months we really needed our own premises," said John.

"We were having trouble finding somewhere suitable but when we heard of a suite at Oak House that was becoming available we jumped at the chance.

"The reception staff are excellent and the facilities are great. It's a nice easy set-up for new businesses but now we've outgrown the space and really need a dedicated training suite, so The Point is ideal for us."

Will Bedford, Programme Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said the countywide network of business innovation and incubation centres means it has never been easier for entrepreneurs to start their own business in Lincolnshire.

"Seven new facilities supporting innovative and start-up businesses have opened in Lincolnshire in the past two years, which is excellent news for our county's entrepreneurs," he said.

"By providing these centres we hope to encourage the incubation and innovation of small to medium-sized enterprises and ultimately create and safeguard jobs and attract new and existing businesses to the county."