An expanding national jobs solution and training company, A4e Limited, which helps local people find work and develop their skills has moved into office suites at the Sleaford Business Centre, Sleaford.

A4e have taken a lease of two units at the former recently refurbished railway station building from Hodgson Elkington, chartered surveyors who are managing agents for North Kesteven District Council who lease Sleaford Business Centre from Network Rail.

"The letting of a significant area of The Sleaford Business Centre to a national company demonstrates the demand for office suites of this type in Sleaford which has excellent accessibility to the town centre and transport links together with ample parking in the locality," said Marie Gutteridge, senior surveyor at Hodgson Elkington.

The refurbishment of the building to provide office suites was completed early April 2011 and within three months of this over half of the square footage  is now let . 

A4e's staff will be helping to get unemployed people back into work through the Government's Work Programme by providing local, face to face support which will cater for individual needs including c.v. writing, training and marrying job opportunities with both local and national employers.

"The Work Programme is our way of improving people's lives in Sleaford and across the East Midlands, by helping people to find and keep a job, supporting their journey with our extraordinary local teams, and by engaging with communities, employers and partners to help us," said Tony Mace, A4e's regional director.

"We are transforming people's experience of looking for sustainable work, as the programmes and packages of support A4e offer are tailored to the unique needs of every individual who comes through our door," said Mr Mace.

A4e have taken the largest available unit for administration and also a training room, making the most of the flexible and adaptable space created to encourage new business opportunities in the town.

Leader of North Kesteven District Council, Councillor Mrs Marion Brighton, OBE, who holds the Executive portfolio for economic regeneration, said: the confidence A4e had shown in signing up for the largest portion of the building over six years illustrated how valuable such space was in Sleaford.

"We established these units expressly to support new enterprise and foster opportunities for training and business growth and it is heartening to see that they are already contributing to our economic development goals for the District," she said.

The aptly name Sleaford Station Business Centre, forms part of the Railway Station on land ultimately owned by Network Rail but leased by NKDC and has been transformed to provide eight offices suites ranging from 97 to 883 sq ft as part of a intuitive refurbishment scheme to help satisfy the demand for small start up office space throughout the town.

As well as encouraging fledgling new businesses, North Kesteven District Council hope that by taking a lead in this way it can brighten up this area of the town. The railway station is an important building, at a gateway to Sleaford and the development  will help to give people arriving in the town by train the right impression of a vibrant town believe North Kesteven District Council.

The project fits in with NKDC's wider aims of enhancing Sleaford through a series of initiatives which are culminating in the long-term vision of the Sleaford Masterplan.

"The Sleaford Station development is not the only North Kesteven District Council initiative encouraging new business into the area. NKDC is offering 6 months half price rent for prospective tenants looking for a small industrial unit at both Billinghay Business Park and Reedspire Business Park in a drive to encourage new businesses into the area," said Marie Gutteridge.

The self-contained office suites at the Business Centre are available on flexible terms based on rents of £10 per sq ft.