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Council gives fledglings a helping hand

A NEW hub of creative businesses has been formed after 25 firms were granted rent-free workspaces by Gateshead Council.

Last year, eleven start-ups were given free offices as part of the council’s project to support new business and goal to breathe fresh life into Gateshead town Centre.

Now they have announced their decision to invite a further 25 creative firms to take part in its innovative ‘Starter for Ten’ project by moving into the vacant first floor of the former Bed Shed building in Gateshead’s High Street.

The new businesses include software designers, fine artists and jewellers, photographers, animators, fashion designers and performance poets.

Cllr Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “The Shed has really captured the imagination of local artists.” “When we announced our plans to make Gateshead a centre for creativity by turning this huge empty building into temporary creative workspace, we were inundated with requests for space. Unfortunately, we simply couldn’t accommodate them all.

“Now that we’ve brought the huge upper floor into use, we can offer workspace to many more fledgling creative businesses, and help generate an even more vibrant and creative atmosphere in Gateshead, which will invigorate our own plans for the Town Centre’s redevelopment.”

Buildings on Gateshead’s High Street South – including The Shed - have been earmarked for demolition in the long-term, but instead of standing dormant until then, creative businesses are being given the opportunity to use the large sub-divided space as a temporary base.

As part of the package, Gateshead Council is providing free business advice and specialist guidance to raise the profile of Gateshead as a location for creative business.

Helping to launch the project last November, Wayne Hemingway said the UK was losing its low-cost business start-up opportunities.

He added: “Places that used to provide low cost opportunities for independent start ups in prime positions are disappearing as our towns and cities contribute to the worrying Clone Town Britain.

“The creative sector is now one of the biggest drivers of the UK economy and yet there are very few facilities to promote entrepreneurship in this area.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .