Official opening of Stockport Business Incubator
| Published: 7th October 2008 15:58 |
Leader of Stockport Council, Councillor Dave Goddard, along with key partners from the University of Manchester Incubator Company (UMIC) and Broadstone Mill, met on Friday to officially open the 'Stockport Business Incubator'.
Picture - Leader of Stockport Council and Chair of Stockport Business Incubator Company, Councillor Dave Goddard (right) officially opens the Stockport Business Incubator at Broadstone Mill with some of the first tenant companies based in the incubator
The project, developed in partnership with UMIC, has transformed 12,000 sq ft of Broadstone Mill in Reddish into state-of-the-art workspace with business incubation facilities. The space has been refurbished to provide high quality incubation facilities, designed to nurture and develop small businesses with the potential for high growth.
Stockport's new not-for-profit Community Interest Company, Stockport Business Incubator Company, formed earlier this year by Stockport Council and Broadstone House Ltd, leases business space enabling it to be made available for the incubation of new businesses. The facility will be home to 22 new businesses and create over 70 jobs.
In his opening address, Councillor Dave Goddard, Leader of Stockport Council and Chair of Stockport Business Incubator Company, said: "We are eager to invest in and support entrepreneurialism in the borough. Stockport Incubator Company has invested £700,000 into this scheme. New enterprises within the incubator will be given help with business planning, finding finance and research and development through links to the University of Manchester. The aim of the incubation centre is to foster knowledge-based companies, which will provide skilled, well-paid jobs for the local area. I would urge all businesses requiring support and incubation to get in touch to find out how the scheme could benefit their business."
Tony Walker, Hi-Tec Incubation Manager at UMIC, added: "The incubator will be a seeding ground for Stockport entrepreneurs and businesses to create a vibrant future for the Reddish area, with companies growing on into workspace and other accommodation. We are actively planning to keep these in the immediate area or at least the borough and retain jobs, skills and value. We will facilitate and provide access to quality workspace, business management and links to the knowledge base to create an environment for innovation."
Sarah Charlton, Managing Director of Mickey & Mallory Ltd, one of the first tenant companies based in the Stockport Incubator, said: "Our creative agency specialises in working with clients with complex communication needs, particularly within the healthcare, government, research or education sectors. Being based in the incubator is perfect for us; we love being part of this community of young, vibrant businesses, and the business support, mentoring and graduate recruitment provided by Manchester University has been invaluable. We are also supporting future business growth at the incubator by creating a new brand identity for Broadstone Mill and the wider Houldsworth Village region."
The business incubator programme is now open for application and units are available to let. For more information please contact;- Tony Walker at UMIC on 0161 918 6780 or tony.walker@umic.co.uk or Meryl LeFeuvre at Broadstone Mill on 0161 953 4473 or meryl@broadstone.co.uk Visit www.broadstone.co.uk and see section on Incubation
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