A Bradford business centre has been expanded to accommodate growing demand for its services less than a year after opening.
Grid Bradford South, of Low Moor Business Park, is run by social housing landlord Incommunities and has provided a base for four more enterprises, taking its total to seven following its launch in February.
It is one of three Bradford Grid centres, funded by Bradford Council’s enterprise service Kick-start and the European Regional Development Fund.
The Grid centres at Low Moor, Park Lane Centre and Carlisle Business Centre, Manningham, offer access to expert advice and office space.
They enable small businesses at a similar stage of growth to work alongside each other and share their experiences.
Coun David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration and economy, said: “Grid Bradford South has been a real success and acts as a terrific incubator for small businesses.
“By providing fundamentals like desks and phone lines as well as support and advice, we are helping start-ups on their way to become small and medium sized enterprises which help grow our local economy and jobs market.”
Incommunities Group chief executive Geraldine Howley said: “The Grid at Low Moor has made a strong start. Incommunities staff at the centre offer a package of business services tailored to meeting the needs of local tenants and residents.”
Facilities available include meeting and presentation rooms and access to equipment such as high-speed internet access and photocopiers.
New businesses based at the centre include a marketing and social media company, a roofing firm and a recruitment agency.
They join an electrician, IT recruitment specialist, community sport provider, catering business and Digitalinc Graphic Design, which has recently taken on a part-time college student and is looking to recruit a part-time administrative assistant.
Shelley Tasker, an enterprise coach based at the centre, said: “We have a wide range of businesses based at the Grid and they are all very supportive of one another.”
The newest Grid entrepreneur is Kirstie Pollard, 19, from Wyke, who has launched Scrumptious catering and cake-baking business.
She spotted an advert and now runs her catering and cake baking business, in addition to catering for clients and visitors to the centre.
To find out more about Bradford Grid contact Bradford Kickstart on 0800 953 9503.
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