| Devon County Council has announced the appointment of the company which will operate the Enterprise Centre near Barnstaple.
TownSq, which has a proven track record in supporting the development of vibrant start-up business communities in England and Wales, will run the Centre at Roundswell on behalf of the County Council when it opens next year. The company creates communities across the UK that foster the creation and growth of enterprise through collaboration, support and leadership. The business operates hubs in North Wales, Oxfordshire, West Sussex and Cheshire, and can support people from an idea right through to founding, investment and growth. Mandy Weston, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of TownSq, said: “We’re delighted to have been appointed as operators of the Enterprise Centre and are excited to get work underway. We’ve already begun drawing up plans to create a welcoming community of start-ups and SMEs, which will be made easier thanks to the incredibly vibrant space the new building will offer. “There’s a huge amount of potential in Northern Devon and we aim to offer space and support for the individuals right through to large teams. The way people work is changing and so the way we offer workspaces must change with it. The combination of small and medium-sized offices mixed with shared spaces allows organisations the focus of their own four walls, but also the natural networking and collaboration that comes with coworking. “When people from different businesses and industries are working alongside each other, there can be a complementary colliding of ideas, and that can lead to some incredible collaborations. When you create the environment for individuals and businesses to grow, that ripples out to the benefit of the wider community and the local economy. We can’t wait to get started.” The Enterprise Centre is being developed at Devon County Council’s Roundswell Enterprise Park development to boost the local economy and create jobs in Torridge and North Devon. It will feature 35 offices and a coworking space for up to 50 individuals, perfect for supporting potential high-growth and start-up businesses. The centre has been designed to offer flexible office accommodation for small and medium size businesses that are looking to expand, as well as providing professional meeting space, high-speed broadband connectivity, and an overall environment that will encourage networking opportunities. The scheme has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Devon County Council. Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: “We are delighted to be able to appoint TownSq. They are an established provider of business workspace and business support, with operations in Wales and England. They share our vision to make positive changes in the local areas in which they work. They will seek to fully immerse themselves in the business and wider community to facilitate as many potential opportunities for high-growth and innovative businesses at all stages of their enterprise journey.” Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The LEP and its partners are working hard to support all businesses at this challenging time. This Centre provides high-growth and start-up businesses the opportunity to join an active business community in a vibrant workspace. The project is receiving £2.15m from the Heart of the South West LEP’s Growth Deal funding. This investment is expected to boost the local economy and create new jobs as the businesses in the centre grow.†Councillor Frank Biederman, Devon County Councillor for Fremington Rural, said: “The appointment of TownSq as the operator of the Enterprise Centre is another major step forward for this project. The centre will be well placed to support business start-ups here in Northern Devon which is just what we need as we look to bounce back from the economic downturn. We look forward to seeing the centre opening and playing a key role in Devon’s future economic growth.†For more information about the Enterprise Centre or to register your interest, please email chris.bouchard@nps.co.uk |
