Centre revamp creates workspaces for small and early stage companies
The Bespoke Centre in Bransholme, Hull, has undergone major refurbishment to create a dedicated managed workspace centre offering 20 units for small and starter businesses.
The centre was originally a community resource centre, developed and operated by the voluntary sector.
It transferred to Hull City Council several years ago and, following a review, has been integrated into the council’s portfolio of Managed Workspace Centres.
The repurposed Bespoke Centre joins the Louis Pearlman Centre and the Craven Park Training and Enterprise Centre as the council’s third Managed Workspace Centre, aimed at providing workspace and support to small and starter firms.
Additional units have been created in areas formerly used as council offices. The council has spent around £325,000 on the project. Around £100,000 of this was covered by grant support from the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP) as part of the Government’s Getting Building Fund.
The centre now offers 20 business units, with a further area continuing to be occupied by BrightStart Day Nursery.
Since the refurbishment works were completed, five new businesses have already moved in and several viewings are in progress with other potential occupiers.
Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The refurbishment of the Bespoke Centre was part of the Managed Workspace Programme, a package of investment to improve our managed workspace offer with support from our partners at the HEY LEP.
“On our visit, I was delighted to see how this investment has made such a huge difference to a very important asset.
“The Bespoke Centre is the ideal facility for any small or starter business, with the added benefit of support from the council’s on-site business support team.”
James Newman, chair of the HEY LEP, said: ‘’It was brilliant to see how the refurbishment of the building could make such a difference to the space available for local small entrepreneurial businesses to take their first step from living room to proper office accommodation.
“As a LEP, our Growth Hub will continue to provide all the vital services to support these businesses and individuals and the Bespoke Centre will add to the office space, so much needed in this area of the city.’’
