12 July 2010
Portsmouth Smarter Working Centre opens for business
Portsmouth’s new Smarter Working Centre is now open at Victory Business Centre, 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. Portsmouth commuters now have the option to work locally, and avoid becoming one of the 110,000 drivers who use the M27 each day.
The centre, supported by Portsmouth City Council who have invested in the project, will help to reduce Portsmouth’s rush-hour congestion by reducing the numbers who commute from the city each day. The Smarter Working Centre is also a member of a network of eight centres across the county. Members can use any centre as well as their local branch.
The Portsmouth SWC forms a local work-hub and offers a green alternative to the daily commute that some residents undertake each day. The Centre, which includes internet connected work-spaces and access to multiple meeting rooms, will help Portsmouth workers to benefit from a better work-life balance, access to advice and a supportive working environment. 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.
Portsmouth City Council Economic Development Office Roger Harrison said: “I am delighted to see that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Smarter Working Centre Network has now expanded to include Portsmouth. I know that this facility will be of great use to the commuters in the Portsmouth area and will provide a supportive environment for new businesses.”
Portsmouth joins the developing network of Smarter Working Centres across the county with centres now open in: Aldershot; Basingstoke; Fareham; Fordingbridge; Gosport; Havant and Lyndhurst. Milford-on-Sea, Eastleigh and Bordon are expected to open later in the year.
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 http://www.smarterworkingcentreshiow.org.uk to find out more about Smarter Working Centres and book your place online.
Portsmouth SWC Contact Details
Location – Victory House, Somers Road North, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 1PJ
SWC Enquiries – Tel 02392 826225 or email enterprisecentres@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Opening hours - 9.00 to 5.00pm Mon-Fri
Facilities – Internet connected work space with or without a PC, private offices and larger meeting 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.