The construction of Corby Enterprise Centre (CEC), the town’s new £8.3m hub for local businesses and entrepreneurs, is complete.
Rushden-based building contractors Kier Marriott today handed over the building to Corby Borough Council at a special ceremony to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week (www.gew.org.uk) an international initiative which aims to develop people’s enterprise skills, confidence and help realise career ambitions.
Construction of the Enterprise Centre began in December 2009 on the site of Priors Hall Park, the major new community taking shape to the north east of Corby. It is located at the entrance to Priors Hall Park and opposite the recently opened £30m Corby Business Academy.
The Enterprise Centre will provide flexible office and studio space for new enterprise and business start-ups in the area. Designed by the Milton Keynes-based DLA Architects, the environmentally friendly building has created 32,000 sq ft of high quality employment space for Corby, with modern offices and workshops suitable for businesses of between 2 and 25 people.
Greig Marshall, Financial Director at Kier Marriott, handed over the keys to the Enterprise Centre to Corby Borough Council's Lead Member for Regeneration, Councillor Jimmy Noble, who was joined at today’s ceremony by the other key partners behind the project.
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has been the project’s major funder, contributing nearly £6.5 million to the scheme, which includes £1m from Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL) through Northamptonshire County Council. The balance of the cash has come from Corby Borough Council (c. £700k) and over £1.1m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). ERDF aims to stimulate enterprise and support the growth of successful businesses.
The North Northants Development Company (NNDC) has worked in partnership with the Bela Partnership to develop the Enterprise Centre. Corby Borough Council will now be able to make the finishing touches including furnishing the Centre before it opens. The Centre will be run on behalf of the Council by Angle Management, an organisation with a track record in running similar Centres.
The first tenant Melli UK, a marketing communications agency from Northampton, is expected to move in to the Enterprise Centre in early December. As well as 24/7 access, free car parking and high speed communications, they will benefit from a unique on-site support service including access to a network of business development experts from a wide range of industries as well as secretarial services.
Shared facilities such as a boardroom and meeting rooms are also available to give companies a cost effective and convenient means to hold training events or client presentations.
Corby Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration, Cllr Jimmy Noble:
”We are very pleased to be able to get in to the Enterprise Centre and start making it a place where businesses can get the support and facilities that they need to develop and thrive. There has already been an amazing amount of interest in the building which shows both the confidence there is in Corby as a place of successful enterprise and the dedication that partners involved in the Centre have to ensure Corby continues working.”
Simon Evans, Chief Executive of North Northants Development Company, said:
“The Corby Enterprise Centre will provide local business people with a real opportunity to access modern facilities, supporting skills development and the growth of local companies. This building is another major resource for Corby and I congratulate all the partners that have helped to deliver this important project.”
Sajeeda Rose, Head of Economic Development from Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited said:
“This is a very exciting opportunity to support the vision for Corby’s town centre regeneration, not only working to attract more businesses to the area but also laying solid foundations for the growth of high quality jobs in the area.”
Peter Downes, Property Development Manager at emda said:
“This is one of three major regeneration projects in Corby that we have funded, highlighting our commitment to investing in an area that has huge economic potential. The Corby Enterprise Centre offers innovative businesses a state-of-the-art facility with excellent support services in which they can grow and flourish. We’re proud to have worked with our partners in catalysing the development of Corby which will bring benefits to people living and working there.”
For further information on Corby Enterprise Centre, businesses should visit www.ceccorby.co.uk, email enquiries@ceccorby.co.uk or telephone 01536 264264.