New University Centre brings business support to Hereford

An award-winning business support service is opening in the heart of Hereford’s Enterprise Zone this month, run by the University of Wolverhampton.

The Hereford Business Solutions Centre - based at Skylon Park - opens on 12th November, offering local businesses based in the Marches (Hereford, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin) a wide range of support services and activities to help them achieve sustainable growth.

Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton, said: “I am delighted that we are now able to extend our support for businesses into Hereford. The University’s Hereford Business Solutions Centre will be operated on the highly successful model which has worked so well in the past at the Wolverhampton Business Solutions Centre, located on the University’s Science Park in Wolverhampton.  It will be run by the same team, who have won a string of national awards for their work with over 1,500 businesses.

“The support on offer to businesses in the Marches will include start-up advice with workshops and mentoring, access to technology (from drone hire to cyber security support), leadership and development programmes, seminars, events and networking opportunities.  We will also be giving guidance on key business growth areas such as export and internationalisation, intellectual property, building information modelling (BIM), supply chain and procurement, and the opportunity to tap into expert knowledge through part funded programmes such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.”

The Centre is working collaboratively with key business organisations in the region through the Marches Growth Hub, with the Hub’s Herefordshire team based at the Centre in Skylon Park. 

For businesses looking for a base there is an enterprise hub at the Centre, with hot-desking facilities, incubation space and breakout areas all at highly competitive rates. Dedicated space can also be hired out for meetings and events, including a contemporary boardroom and a flexible, large seminar room.  Both rooms are equipped with cutting-edge technology allowing for video conferencing, and there is also digital signage which can be tailored to create a professional feel to any event.

The Centre will have its official opening at 4:30pm by Professor Ian Oakes, with the event continuing until 6:30pm. An upcoming programme of business events will be announced at the opening.

Bill Jackson, chairman of the Enterprise Zone Board, said: “We're absolutely delighted to welcome the University of Wolverhampton's Business Solutions Centre to Skylon Court.

“It is very apt that the first tenant to move in to this fantastic development on the Enterprise Zone will be a facility dedicated to encouraging businesses here to achieve their potential by providing access to a wide range of support, activities and services.”

The Hereford Business Solutions Centre is based in the Skylon Court area of the park, which is supported by investment from Herefordshire Council and the European Regional Development Fund 2007-13. The University of Wolverhampton also runs Business Solutions Centres in Telford and Sandwell, in collaboration with local partners.

Local businesses in the Marches who are interested in finding out more about the Centre are invited to attend the official opening; to register a place, please RSVP by Friday 6^th November to email: penny@wlv.ac.uk or telephone: 01902 321574.

For more information on Hereford Business Solutions Centre, please visit www.wolverhamptonbsc.com/hereford or contact telephone: 01902 321272, email: enquiries@wolverhamptonbsc.com

ENDS

For more information please contact Claire Tallentire in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736, email: C.Tallentire@wlv.ac.uk