AMBITIOUS businesses from across the North East will soon have access to a unique facility designed to encourage collaborative working and business growth, when the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) opens a new co-working hub next month.
The Open Space, which will be located at the BIC in Sunderland, will provide access to workstations, business mentors, private meeting spaces and business information systems for small business owners who currently work from home and require occasional access to space.
The 2,400 sq ft facility, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme 2007-13, boosts a secure IT network, a range of telecoms options which will allow members to connect to landlines or laptops and access to business information and experts who will be delivering a wide range of seminars from the facility. In addition the facility also benefits from free parking and access to major road networks, making it the ideal location to meet clients.
An established enterprise agency, the BIC has helped to start 2,000 businesses in the region and helped many more to expand over its 20 year history and is confident that its latest venture will further encourage business growth, by offering flexible and affordable workspace to business people who do not require full-time office space.
David Howell, director of operations at the BIC, said: “The Open Space is designed to encourage business growth and is ideally placed to support those businesses that don’t require permanent facilities but can benefit from access to a professional work setting. Co-working can help overcome some of the problems associated with working from home, such as feelings of isolation, by providing an inspiring location in which businesses can network, share ideas and collaborate.
“With access to meeting rooms, quiet spaces and high speed wifi among other facilities as well as business mentoring from our team of experienced advisers, we are confident the facility will provide an environment for successful growth.”
The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) offers a wide range of support services for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Based on the banks of the River Wear in Sunderland, the BIC includes a range of flexible office and industrial space to let and is home to around 140 businesses. The BIC’s team of experienced advisers help around 150 new businesses to start up every year by providing them one to one business advice, mentoring and support, training courses, workshops and seminars.
