actnow Press Release
December 2007
Bodmin seizes the future with launch of flagship enterprise centre
This week sees the launch of the Bodmin Futures Centre, an innovative community enterprise centre expected to accelerate the growth of an enterprise culture in Bodmin
Launched by the not-for–profit community organisation, Bodmin Futures, the centre will provide office space for up to ten start- up and growing businesses, which will be available on ‘easy in, easy out’ terms.
The Bodmin Futures Centre, which is at Harleigh Road in Bodmin, is supported by North Cornwall District Council and actnow reach, the pioneering project that is spearheading the growth of broadband in Cornwall.
Chairman of Bodmin Futures, Gil Patrick, says ‘We are aiming to break down as many of the barriers as possible that prevent a person setting up a business. Usually, if someone wants to take office space, they will need to take out a long lease, which is a big financial hurdle when you are starting out. At Bodmin Futures Centre, we ask for no more commitment up front than the next week’s rent. This will make it considerably easier for people in Bodmin and the surrounding villages to test out their new business ideas.’
The new centre is being unveiled at a launch event on December 13th and is thereafter open for business.
Start-up or growing businesses can rent space at the Bodmin Futures Centre for only £50 per desk a week, which includes use of a broadband wireless network, a meeting room and one-to-one mentoring and business advice.
As a launch offer, start-up businesses that sign up in January 2008 can benefit from a second month’s free rental in February.
The Bodmin Futures Centre will also be the base of the Bodmin Futures community organisation, which is planning a number of initiatives in Bodmin, including the regeneration of Foster Hall and a co-operative waste-recycling scheme for businesses.
Gil Patrick says ‘We see the Bodmin Futures Centre as the hub of a new and vibrant community in Bodmin. We expect that the young businesses that start out at the Centre will feed through to the new Beacon Technology Park as they grow.’
Bill Holliday, Manager of the Rural Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Partnership, which has backed the actnow reach project to the tune of nearly £100,000 through the South West Regional Development Agency Rural Renaissance Scheme, says ‘Bodmin Futures is an example of the kind of flagship community project that can help transform people’s lives.
Starting your own business is an exciting step towards prosperity for many people in rural communities and especially so now that broadband is expanding business horizons’.
actnow reach is the latest initiative to be launched by actnow, the Objective One project that is led by Cornwall Enterprise and has driven the growth of broadband amongst businesses in the county, already supporting nearly 10,000 businesses to make the most of broadband technology.
Nigel Ashcroft, Project Director, says ‘Now our vision is to help bring the benefits of broadband to every single man, woman and child in Cornwall.’
actnow reach is currently able to provide funding and support to other voluntary and community groups that would like to take advantage of broadband technology.
For more information about actnow reach, call Stephen Caen at actnow on 0800 800 935 or email reach@actnowcornwall.co.uk .
Visit www.actnowcornwall.co.uk/reach.asp
For more information about Bodmin Futures Centre, email gil.Patrick@pfa-research.com or call Gil Patrick on 07831 533785.
