Business Innovation is Crowned in Leicestershire
LEICESTERSHIRE’S reputation as a creative hub for business innovation has been cemented, quite literally, with a traditional ‘Topping Out’ ceremony to mark a major milestone for the £4.2m Harborough Innovation and Business Centre (HIBC), which aims to promote business growth across the county, whilst creating approximately 180 jobs.
Representatives from project partners, Harborough District Council, William Davis Ltd, East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Prospect Leicestershire, secured a commemorative plaque to the highest point of the structure symbolising the age-old construction tradition of ‘Topping Out' - the ceremonial cementing of a coin or, these days, a plaque into the building to bring good fortune.
Guy Higgins, Managing Director of William Davis Ltd commented: "The ‘Topping Out' ceremony of this flagship building is a great start to the New Year. This new facility will provide a landmark gateway for Market Harborough and once completed will be a thriving hub for innovation, enterprise and business."
Andrew Morgan, Skills and Communities Director at emda, added: "This dedicated, modern facility will enable businesses to grow and flourish, helping to create new, high quality jobs for local people. It will be vitally important in boosting the economic potential of Harborough as it builds up the manufacturing, distribution and service sectors that are becoming increasingly important to the development of the area."
When complete in June 2011, the centre will provide 52 offices, along with eight studios and meeting rooms and will form part of the 20-acre Airfield Business Park. The site will also comprise six commercial and industrial units built by Loughborough-based contractor and developer, William Davis.
Nick Carter, Executive Chairman of Prospect Leicestershire, the county’s investment promotion agency, commented: "Prospect Leicestershire is very pleased to have been part of the combined operation that delivered this important facility. This new building will help more people get the right start for their business and bring more jobs to the area. It is a great example of effective teamwork between the private and public sectors, and this is a significant day for Harborough and for the Leicester and Leicestershire economic partnership."
Work commenced on site in August 2010 after the project received funding from emda to the value of £4m through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Sub Regional Investment Programme (SRIP) to complete the partnership project. Developer William Davis contributed complementary work space as part of the project to the value of £1m and Harborough District Council has added £200,000 and will be the owner of the building.
For further information about business opportunities in Leicestershire, visit our Prospect Leicestershire pages.
