A brand new £1.16million business enterprise centre on the outskirts of Highbridge was officially opened by the County Council on Wednesday (25th March).
Entrepreneurs and business people from across the area joined Somerset County Council’s Highbridge Enterprise Centre team, including Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and South West Business Centres, at the opening.
Highbridge Enterprise Centre on the Isleport Business Park aims to promote local firms and business investment, and five companies are already based at the centre.
Cllr David Hall, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Inward Investment, said: “Somerset has a fantastic amount to offer to new and growing businesses, both inside and outside the county.”
“Highbridge Enterprise Centre – which is Somerset County Council’s latest and fifth centre – is another crucial ingredient in that offer: a unique, flagship hub for like-minded, ambitious individuals and companies.”
“It is a real achievement all-round, an emblem of our passion for championing and building on the dynamism, diversity, confidence and ingenuity of Somerset enterprise, and we look forward to watching it go from strength to strength.”
Leader of Somerset County Council, Cllr John Osman, declared the centre open by unveiling an official plaque.
He said the centre is aimed at start-up businesses, with eleven modern, purpose built offices that are available for lease. Each office costs £266 per month and includes WiFi (via 50Mb fibre optic broadband), plus light, heat and business rates, and a VoIP phone, office furniture and free car parking.
Highbridge Enterprise Centre tenant Duncan McLean, MD of Solec, said: “This really has come along at the right time to give me the opportunity to expand my business. The location, with the closeness to the M5 junction, is ideal.”
And Chris Garcia, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s CEO, added: “I am delighted to see the latest results of the Rural Growth Fund manifested as the new Highbridge Enterprise Centre today. It’s a real example of the partnership working we do so well here in the Heart of the South West, built, funded and managed by a combination of Somerset Council, HotSW LEP bidding and South West Business Centres’ management.”
Highbridge County Councillor John Woodman added: “This centre is superb for Highbridge, creating new jobs and bringing new business to the town – it’s great to see it open and the first businesses up and running.”
Burnham’s Town Centre Manager Bev Milner Simonds, who attended the opening, said: “I hope that the centre attracts new businesses into the area and helps those already trading grow. The addition of the Enterprise Centre into the mix of units available in the area is a positive step for Burnham and Highbridge.”
