26 February 2010
Smarter Working Comes to Gosport
Smarter Working Comes to Gosport
A new Smarter Working Centre is now open in Gosport offering entrepreneurs, business start-ups, home-based businesses and commuters low-cost accommodation and the chance to work and meet locally and avoid the stress and cost of the peak-time journey to work.
Hampshire County Council provided match funding of £9,000 to help establish the Gosport Smarter Working Centre, which was launched by Councillor Jonathan Glen, Executive Member for Economic Development at Hampshire County Council, and The Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Mrs Diane Searle on 24 February. The premises, located at The Sanderson Centre, thatwill be the home to the Gosport Smarter Working Centre have been completely refurbished with four open-area internet-ready and/or PC equipped workspaces provided in addition to a small private office area and a meeting/training room. Sanderson Centre staff are experienced and well-positioned to provide support and optional services including courier and virtual reception services.
Accommodation and usage costs are kept low at Smarter Working Centres by offering users the option of 'pay as you use' or discounted prepaid allocated work or meeting-space options. Depending upon the membership package chosen, work-space can work out at as little as £3 per hour or £10 per day. This can reduce even further if organisations are willing to pre-book longer periods. Individuals and businesses signing up before the end of March will be eligible for additional offers reducing costs further.
Smarter Working Centre members also benefit from the access to support, training and advice from expert organisations such as Job Centre Plus, Enterprise First, and Business Link skills and business advisers. There are also on-line job-search resources to help recently redundant executives and professionals get back into work.
Businesses interested in using a smarter working centre can find out more at the website http://www.smarterworkingcentreshiow.org.uk. The site provides an easy introduction for those new to the concept of Smarter Working Centres and offers real-time space availability checking, on-line booking and secure on-line payment.
Councillor Jonathan Glen, Executive Member for Economic Development at Hampshire County Council, said: “Smarter Working Centres offer a more flexible approach for those who need occasional access to office or meeting space and are a cost effective alternative to working from home or taking a long term rental. The Sanderson Centre offers quality accommodation for small businesses, commuters and entrepreneurs in Gosport. I hope that people will give ‘Smarter Working’ a try to see how it can benefit them.”
The Centre in Gosport is the second to open in South Hampshire this month with the Smarter Working Centre at Studio Seven on the Ridgeway in Havant launched on 5th February. A further centre, in Fareham, will open on 16th March. .
Smarter Working Centres are one of four initiatives the County Council has introduced to help local businesses to assist workers and help independent businesses develop new opportunities to prosper in the current economic climate. The projects are funded with £425,000 from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI). They were created following the work of the Senate to identify action that could be taken by local authorities to help businesses in the economic downturn.
The other measures the County Council has put in place includes a retail support package which aims to help local retailers improve their online presence, encourage consumers into the town centres and provide new skills to redundant shop workers . There are also grants available to enable the voluntary and community sector to offer work experience and volunteering places helping people to gain new skills and grants to encourage businesses to take on apprentices.
For more information on what Hampshire County Council does for business visit www.hants.gov.uk/business.
Ends
Note to Editors
Address: Sanderson Centre 15, lees Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 3UL
Booking Enquiries Telephone Number: 02392 524331
Parking Facilities: Limited FREE places directly outside centre
Public Transport: Local buses within minutes of SWC
Website: www.sanderson-centre.co.uk
Contact/Enquiry Email : sales@sanderson-centre.com
Opening Days and Hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Access By arrangement please phone.