Beverley Enterprise Centre builds up to a brighter future as construction work starts

Construction work has begun on a new enterprise centre in Beverley, paving the way for around 30 companies to make it their new home once completed early next year.

The £4.8million development on Grovehill Road will become a landmark building in the market town and will offer superior facilities for new and existing businesses, regenerating a former demolition site and visually enhancing the immediate area.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has part-funded the project which has secured £1.5m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £0.5m from the Getting Building Fund, via the Hull and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP), to help finance the project.

Once constructed, it is intended that the site will provide excellent opportunities for significant industrial development, and have the potential to offer employment opportunities, economic sustainability, and a boost for the market town, which currently relies heavily on the service sector, retail and the visitor economy. 

The building – with its construction designed and project-managed by East Riding Infrastructure & Facilities – will accommodate a combination of office and light industrial units, with 14 workshops located on the ground floor which will range between 17-79 square metres with some having the bonus of external loading doors.

Seventeen offices will take up the first floor of the new build, ranging from 17-54 square metres.

The building will also come with its own green remit, with an array of circa 200 square metre solar panels, EV car chargers, and a low emission and refrigerant design. In addition, during construction sustainable and locally sourced building materials will be used.

For its status as an upcoming environmentally sustainable building, it has been awarded a British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent Design certificate – a prestigious standard to achieve for any building and complementing the council’s recent climate emergency declaration.

Paul Bell, head of economic development and communications at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We are thrilled that the Beverley Enterprise Centre has broken ground as it will become a major landmark building both for the businesses and for Beverley as a developing centre for industry.

“With its promise of a 1,500 square metre floor space and the 80 jobs it will generate, it will be yet another one-stop shop for both start-up and established businesses in the region, and will stand proudly with the other business centres in Bridlington, Driffield, Market Weighton, Hessle, Brough, and of course the RaisE Business Centre development currently under construction in Goole.”

The centre will offer a wide range of services, including:

• office space to let on ‘easy-in, easy-out’ terms
• conference facilities
• business support and guidance in relation to legislation and funding
• informal networking opportunities.

Jo Dooley, business investment and tourism services manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The council’s business investment services, working through our business centres, provide practical advice and guidance to hundreds of businesses, helping them thrive and ensure that it directly benefits the East Riding economy as it lets it continue to grow.

“The council is fully committed to supporting the local business community, and the building of this centre is a strong indication of this support with the promise of bright and modern office and workshop space.”

James Newman OBE, chair of the HEY LEP, said: “We are very pleased to support the Beverley Enterprise Centre through our allocation of the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

“The centre will provide much-needed high quality managed office space in the town, which will be an attractive proposition for young and growing businesses as well as established SMEs, to base themselves in a thriving and modern working environment.

“Not only this, but the centre will link in with our Growth Hub services, providing advice and support for these businesses to grow their operations.”

Amanda Hoggart, business centre manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, added: “Our business centres have a number of different-sized office and workshop space available to let, and can be accessed 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

“Each centre has its own pro-active team on site, including experienced business advisers and a professional, front-of-house team to support your business.

“Every year our business centres help entrepreneurs achieve their dream of running their own business, and can also help existing businesses expand and grow.”

The construction of the centre was awarded to local contractors Geo Houlton & Sons Ltd.

Andrew Kingston, managing director for Geo Houlton & Sons Ltd., said: “We are delighted to be entrusted with the construction of the new landmark business centre in Beverley. It is a visually stunning building that will enhance the area, and we can proudly say it is being built by a local for the benefit of the local economy.”

For more information about Beverley Enterprise Centre or the wider portfolio of business centres, contact Amanda Hoggart at amanda.hoggart@eastriding.gov.uk