Construction starts on £4.8m enterprise centre

Building work has begun on a new enterprise centre in Beverley, paving the way for around 30 companies to make it their new home once completed early next year.

The £4.8m development on Grovehill Road will regenerate a former demolition site.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has part-funded the project which has secured £1.5m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £0.5m from the Getting Building Fund, via the Hull and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP), to help finance the project.

The building – with its construction designed and project-managed by East Riding Infrastructure & Facilities – will accommodate a combination of office and light industrial units, with 14 workshops located on the ground floor. 17 offices will take up the first floor.

Paul Bell, head of economic development and communications at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We are thrilled that Beverley Enterprise Centre has broken ground as it will become a major landmark building both for the businesses and for Beverley as a developing centre for industry.

“With its promise of a 1,500 sq m floor space and the 80 jobs it will generate, it will be yet another one-stop shop for both start-up and established businesses in the region, and will stand proudly with the other business centres in Bridlington, Driffield, Market Weighton, Hessle, Brough, and of course the RaisE Business Centre development currently under construction in Goole.”

The centre will offer a wide range of services, including:

• office space to let on ‘easy-in, easy-out’ terms
• conference facilities
• business support and guidance in relation to legislation and funding
• informal networking opportunities.

Jo Dooley, business investment and tourism services manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council’s business investment services, working through our business centres, provide practical advice and guidance to hundreds of businesses, helping them thrive and ensure that it directly benefits the East Riding economy as it lets it continue to grow.

“The council is fully committed to supporting the local business community, and the building of this centre is a strong indication of this support with the promise of bright and modern office and workshop space.”

James Newman, chair of the HEY LEP, said: “We are very pleased to support the Beverley Enterprise Centre through our allocation of the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

“The centre will provide much-needed high quality managed office space in the town, which will be an attractive proposition for young and growing businesses as well as established SMEs, to base themselves in a thriving and modern working environment.”

Amanda Hoggart, business centre manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, added: “Our business centres have a number of different-sized office and workshop space available to let, and can be accessed 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

“Each centre has its own proactive team on site, including experienced business advisers and a professional, front-of-house team to support your business.

“Every year our business centres help entrepreneurs achieve their dream of running their own business, and can also help existing businesses expand and grow.”

The construction of the centre was awarded to local contractors Geo Houlton & Sons Ltd.