Work has started on creating a new enterprise centre in the heart of Portsmouth. City Buildings will offer space for 14 new offices and a co-working space in Commercial Road on the former Job Centre and Playland sites.
Supporting small companies by providing lower rents for office space and the chance to share ideas with like-minded firms forms a major pillar of Portsmouth’s plan to help drive forward the local economy.
City Buildings already has one major tenant lined up with other local businesses interested. The new enterprise centre is scheduled to open later this year.
Alan Lowe, Portsmouth Enterprise Centres Manager said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for Portsmouth’s city centre. There is a real desire from businesses for premises and to be located centrally close to all transport links. Plus, new businesses will increase a regular footfall to the retail offering nearby.”
This development is part of the council’s wider city centre regeneration programme to create a more vibrant, welcoming and greener city centre whilst supporting the local economy. The idea is to create communities of entrepreneurs and start-up firms to give them a helping hand and create new opportunities for the area.
Jane Lamer, Head of Economic Development and Skills at Portsmouth City Council said
“This is about giving people a first step up and aligning business support closely with growing the economy. We offer favourable terms designed to support start-ups and small to medium sized businesses. The centres welcome people with varying perspectives,” she adds, “from film companies to surveyors to mechanics, we have a range of businesses in our centres.”