Pictured above: Harborough Innovation and Business Centre is nearing completion and is set for a grand opening next month

A new centre, set to promote business and innovation across Leicestershire, will be opened next month. The £4.2million Harborough Innovation and Business Centre, located at the gateway entrance to Airfield Business Park, just north of Market Harborough, will open its doors on Thursday, June 9.

The much-anticipated partnership project will help fledgling businesses set up and prosper, and bring about 180 jobs to the region. Representatives from project partners, Harborough District Council, William Davis Ltd, East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Prospect Leicestershire will be present at the opening ceremony, along with a host of dignitaries. 

The centre provides 52 individual offices, along with eight studios and meeting rooms and forms part of the 20-acre Airfield Business Park. The building has been designed to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating, reflecting its important sustainability credentials. The site also comprises six commercial and industrial units built by Loughborough-based contractor and developer William Davis.

Building work began in August 2010 after the project received funding to the value of £4m through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and emda's Sub Regional Investment Programme (SRIP). Developer William Davis contributed complementary work space as part of the project to the value of £1m and Harborough District Council has added £200,000 and will own the building. 

Management company Oxford Innovation Ltd has recently been appointed by Harborough District Council to manage the centre.

Guy Higgins, managing director, William Davis Ltd said: "The vision for this scheme was to create a state-of-the-art, sustainable business centre that would provide a thriving destination for enterprise and innovation. Together with our project partners, we have worked hard to deliver this and now look forward to witnessing the impact it will have on both the development and economy of the local area." 

Andrew Morgan, Skills and Communities Director at emda, added: "This dedicated, modern facility will enable businesses to grow and flourish, helping to create new, high quality jobs for local people. It will be vitally important in boosting the economic potential of Harborough as it builds up the manufacturing, distribution and service sectors that are becoming increasingly important to the development of the area." 

A 'topping out' ceremony, attended by a number of distinguished guests, was held at the site in January to mark a milestone in the build programme.