25 May 2010
Aldershot joins the SWC Network
Aldershot Smarter Working Centre opens for business
A new Smarter Working Centre is now open in Aldershot 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. The centre will also provide FREE on-line advice and Job Search resources for recently redundant professionals and budding entrepreneurs.
Hampshire County Council provided match funding of £7,000 to help establish the Aldershot Smarter Working Centre, which was officially opens on 21 May.
The Aldershot Smarter Working Centre is operated by Enterprise First (Southern) Limited which provides a range of advisory and business services to, mostly, SME organisations in the area. The Centre is located on Wellington Street and includes four internet connected work-spaces and access to a ground floor meeting room. In addition a local ‘job search’ club has been set up at the Centre to help recently redundant executives.
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.
Smarter Working Centre members also benefit from access to support, training and advice from expert organisations such as Job Centre Plus, Enterprise First, Hampshire Chamber and Business Link skills and business advisers.
eHampshire MATiSSE Project Manager Tony Corbin said: “I am particularly pleased to see that the Aldershot Smarter Working Centre will focus on the needs of recently redundant professionals and help budding entrepreneurs get their business ambitions on track. SWCs are a great way for entrepreneurs to meet, learn and exchange ideas and for businesses generally to work collaboratively. The pay as you use more flexible approach to work and meeting space is ideal for those who need just occasional access and is a much better alternative to working from home or taking a long term rental.
The Centre in Aldershot joins the developing network of Smarter Working Centres across the County with centres now open in Basingstoke, Fareham, Fordingbridge, Gosport and Havant with others to follow shortly in Lyndhurst and Portsmouth.
The initiative is part of a £425k investment by Hampshire County Council to help Hampshire Businesses through and out of the recession to recovery. For more information on what Hampshire County Council does for business visit www.hants.gov.uk/business
Visit www.smarterworkingcentreshiow.org to find out more about Smarter Working Centres and book your place online.
Aldershot SWC Contact Details
Location – 11 Wellington Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1DX Tel 01252 319272
SWC Enquiries – Katy Mosey and John Chalmers
Opening hours - 9.00 to 5.00pm Mon-Fri
Facilities – Internet connected work space with or without a PC, private offices and larger (twelve delegate) meeting/training room used either for conferences or training, all with access to office equipment such as photocopier, printer, data projector, flip charts.
For further information on the Smarter Working Centre initiative, please contact Tony Corbin, MATiSSE Project Manager on 01962 84681 or email tony.corbin@hants.gov.uk