The complex is a new investment by Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency to create modern, environmentally-sustainable business accommodation that enables small businesses to grow. It has been built alongside CREA’s offices in the Rural Enterprise Centre near Penrith and the buildings have been designed to incorporate the latest in energy saving and waste management technology too.

There are 12 incubation units in all, as well as conference and meeting facilities and parking. The ambition is to create a thriving hub of businesses that can develop and grow, expand and then move on, to be replaced by new businesses that can make the most of the unique incubator approach.

“The creative and knowledge-based sectors have been clearly identified as important for Cumbria,” explains CREA Executive Director, Bob Clark. “But we know there are barriers to growth for some of these companies – it is a huge jump to go from being a sole trader working from home to having a business with employees and premises. CREA has invested in twelve of these incubator units to make those barriers to growth much smaller and to encourage growth in sectors with valuable potential for this area’s economy.”

But what do the first tenants make of their accommodation?

Sid Sims is one of the two directors of Explosive Productions Ltd, a company that produces high-energy musical shows for clients such as Center Parcs and Brittania Hotels. “Working from my home was not an option for us any more and the arrangement with CREA is exactly what we need. The license fee is inclusive of practical things like telecommunications infrastructure and support services such as reception, kitchen and meeting room facilities as well as access to professional business advisors. The other big advantage for us is the 24 hour access – we don’t tend to keep normal office hours!”

Andrew Lennie of Worldwide Events agrees: “We have just secured two new contracts for major events in 2007 – one for Transport for London and one for the Whitehaven Maritime Festival - so the timing of our move is ideal. The facilities are fantastic, the “easy in, easy out” agreement gives us flexibility for the future and the potential for networking and making new connections with other companies is a real plus. This approach is just what new companies need to get going.”

Several other local companies are already looking at the possibility of moving into one or more of the remaining units and Bob Clark and his team are keen to get business owners to visit and see the units for themselves and to discuss how the incubator approach could work for them.

“This is not just about office accommodation,” Bob says. “There should be a real buzz about the place as people get together, share ideas and opportunities and make the most of the range of support services on offer. We’re already looking forward to watching these first businesses outgrow us!”

Anyone interested in finding out more can contact Lynda Barnes at CREA on 01768 891555 or via incubators@crea.co.uk or take a look at the full details of what is on offer at www.crea.co.uk.

Notes
The mission of the Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency is to regenerate and strengthen the rural economy by creating sustainable employment.

It was first incorporated in 1987 with a small team based in Kendal but it now has offices in both Kendal and Penrith. CREA has increased its portfolio of services to include Business Advice (Start Up, Existing Businesses), Cumbria Farm Link, the Farm Tourism Initiative, Distinctly Cumbrian, the Rural Planning Facilitation Service, Cumbria Organics, the Cumbria Business Environment Network and the Resource Efficiency Programme.

For further information, please contact
Sally Seed Stoneleigh Communications 01539 624732	Lynda Barnes Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency 01768 891555