 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
 |
| Stoke Creative Village |
|
||||||||||||
|
Capturing Creative Entrepreneurs!
The City of Stoke-on-Trent and the wider Regeneration Zone includes some of the most deprived communities in England and Wales. The recent "Enterprise Option Study " commissioned by SRB6 through Business Link identifies the above as proof of need and looked at options that would redress the balance and the demand for those.
One of the key areas of support needed was around the provision of suitable premises, the study said "Our qualitative evidence from consultations and quantitative projections suggest that the current lack of suitable premises is a brake on the local economy”. This suggests that as many as 400 jobs per annum are lost to the local area.
The imperfect functioning of localised markets for creative start-up accommodation has been well evidenced in North Staffordshire. A lack of suitable premises is also observed to be a key reason why micro-enterprises relocate. Supplying good quality workspace for micro and fledgling companies holds little attraction for private investors. Staffordshire University has a population of enterprise aware students and alumni and where the opportunity has been created for them to set up their own enterprises they have taken advantage of University enterprise facilities. We are currently in talks with a group of recent Graduates from Arts and Crafts courses, who all have sound business plans. Attracting graduates from the Faculty of Arts, Media and Design at Staffordshire University to stay and work in North Staffordshire will positively contribute to diverse expertise and skills being available. This dedicated workspace adjacent to the student workshops and studios helps local small creative businesses in the Stoke area promote their craft in the region – and get started. It provides a base to develop a creative and vibrant community of enterprises that will be able to populate the planned creative industries development within the University Quarter, thus increasing its likelihood of success. This will also support the redevelopment timescale for the College Road site, which in the medium term will be restructured with the replacement and development of several existing University buildings. It has enabled Staffordshire University to expand the successful ‘Lichfield approach’ up in to Stoke-on-Trent whereby tenants of the business village are supported through the university and other agencies including the chamber of commerce, business link and the BIC (BIC - Stafford business Village). The Lichfield business Village has received significant commendation from all visitors including a European delegation. The facility is aimed at making life easier for small and growing enterprises who are starting up as there is only 1 fee to pay which covers rent, rates, energy costs, shared IT and internet access. Located on College Road, this workshop environment with newly refurbished space for designer/maker businesses and craftspeople, is aimed at those who may have started working but who now need additional space. It will provide around 15 fitted workspaces with each being licensed out to individuals with easy-in, easy-out terms. One benefit will come from the community itself – spinning ideas off from each other and perhaps even some inter-trading of expertise! The project has had considerable financial support from Advantage West Midlands via the Regeneration Zone.
Expressions of interest would be welcomed and further details of the facility can be obtained by calling 0800 169 2148.
Applications requiring accommodation within the Creative Village will be subject to a pre-selection meeting, to assess if their accommodation needs can be met by the resources, facilities and health and safety requirements of the Creative Village. |
