Funding for Hexham enterprise hubs

Around £300k worth of grants have been secured to establish two enterprise hubs that are expected to bring 25 new jobs.

Northumberland National Park Authority and community services organisation Adapt North East have secured the grants through the North East Rural Growth Network.

The money will be used to establish two enterprise hubs in the garden of National Park headquarters at Eastburn and at the former council highways depot on Burn Lane.

The hubs will offer small office and workshop space to micro-enterprises, as well as rural enterprise support services from Northumberland College and NBSL.

Support will come from Hexham Business Forum and Hexham Community Partnership.

Councillor Allan Hepple, policy board member for planning, housing and regeneration at Northumberland County Council, said: “This is an extremely exciting project that will see a lot of new and existing businesses being able to grow and expand within Northumberland.

“By providing a centre for meeting and networking spaces for all local businesses to use, the hub will help create a strong image for Hexham as an attractive and prosperous area to set up any business.”

Speaking for Northumberland National Park Authority, Stuart Evans head of Corporate Services added: “The National Park Authority is delighted to be able to support rural growth by making space and facilities available in the much sought-after Hexham area.

“We are located in a very appealing setting surrounded by trees and gardens and have existing capacity to build upon. It makes sense for us to make the best of our publicly-funded facilities for the benefit of Hexham’s growing business community.”

Liz Prudhoe, director of Adapt North East said: “Adapt has a track record of developing enterprising activities and look forward to working with local entrepreneurs to bring this vacant site back into use”.