Smarter working has arrived in Havant with the official opening of Studio Seven which forms part of a larger group of Smarter Working Centres (SWC) throughout the county. Local authorities and Hampshire County Council have provided the initial injection of funding into the programme. The initiative is part of a £425k investment by HCC to help Hampshire businesses through and out of the recession to recovery.
Launched in 2009 the SWC new initiative offers business start-up, home-based businesses and commuters the chance to work and meet locally. These centre are expected to appeal to the following target groups:
- Entrepreneurs starting their own business, requiring a low cost, low commit office address and business support.
- Businesses or employees working from home who would benefit from a collaborative working environment where ideas can be shared and support obtained.
- Commuters who wish to save on travel costs but who are unable or cannot easily work from home.
- Any business or Community Organisation that needs access to low-cost, meeting or training space.
- Remote of Field workers who need an office base, perhaps for only a few days per month.
With more than 50% of Business Start-ups home-based, and with 60% failing to make it beyond the third year of operation, it is hoped that the agency supported collaborative working environment of the SWC will improve these disturbing statistics.
Project manager Tony Corbin commented “The SWC offers an alternative to the isolation of regular home-based working and its impact on the home and in particular, family. Not everyone thrives or indeed survives. Many others don’t even get the opportunity to work from home as their property is simply not big enough, or not conducive to productive working. Now we have an affordable alternative, your local Smarter Working Centre. Space can be booked by the hour, there’s no lease to sign or heat and light bills to pay. Instead you simply pay by the hour and ONLY when you use the facility.
This affordable, flexible office environment is now open for use and offers a professional business atmosphere for as little as £12 a day or £4 per hour in internet connected offices or meeting room facilities. Membership is free and does not commit you to using the SWC. You have the benefit of only paying for the hours you use via the secure online payment system on the website. Your membership number and password enable you to use the facility at any time.
Studio Seven Business Centre, 7 Kingscroft Court, Ridgeway, Havant. PO9 1LS (at the end of Solent Road ) enquire@studiosevenhavant.com – www.studiosevenhavant.com
