Partner Article

New look centre off to enterprising start

A business centre which underwent a £1m transformation has helped 16 budding entrepreneurs launch their own companies. Hartlepool Enterprise Centre, formerly known as Brougham Enterprise Centre, was re-opened earlier this year after undergoing an 18-month makeover.

The centre underwent a building enhancement programme, which saw the creation of additional business units, news conference and meeting facilities, a “chill out” area and a bistro. The renovation was made possible through funding from regional development agency One NorthEast, Tees Valley Partnership, the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Hartlepool Borough Council.

Mayor Stuart Drummond said: “It is very important for Hartlepool to have a diverse economy and creating lots of new firms is one of the keys to achieving this. “Hartlepool Enterprise Centre is now recognised as the place to visit for people intending to set up in business, not least because of the large amount of help and advice available there.”

The changes to the centre came about following a report carried out in 2002 on business incubation in Hartlepool. The report prioritised the need to upgrade the centre as part of a long term business start-up strategy.

John Lowther, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Partnership, said: “In common with other parts of the Tees Valley, Hartlepool’s economy has traditionally depended to a large degree on a small number of larger industries - but times are now changing and facilities such as the Enterprise Centre are vital in enabling the town to support and encourage the kind of new businesses which hold the key to its future success.”

To find out more about the Hartlepool Enterprise Centre, call (01429) 867677.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .