Tag Archives: Hereford

News

New operator appointed for Shell Store business centre

Hereford’s first dedicated business incubation centre is entering an exciting new phase in 2023 after a new operator was appointed to manage The Shell Store.

The building, on Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, has been a huge success since its formal opening in December 2021, welcoming a host of new businesses
and developing an active conference programme.

Now Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq), which has an established track record at successfully operating business hubs across the UK, has been appointed by Herefordshire Council to manage the centre.

Mark Pearce, Managing Director of Skylon Park, said: “Given changing working habits such as more employees being offered hybrid and home working post-pandemic, The Shell Store has bucked the trend by demonstrating the demand for high-quality office and conference space where teams can come together and grow.

“The Shell Store offers a unique working environment and we’re delighted to be at 60% occupancy of our office suites as we handover to TownSq, which is promising a host of new benefits for both existing and future tenants including hot-desking and networking events. We’re already home to the Marches Growth Hub and the Chamber of Commerce, giving businesses access to advice and support on site.”

As well as developing a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and remote workers, TownSq will provide everything founders need to start and grow. From infrastructure like professional meeting spaces and high-speed broadband, through to Start Up clubs, Business Accelerators and one-to-one mentorship.

Councillor Ellie Chowns, Cabinet member, environment and economy, Herefordshire Council said: “It’s exciting to see the Shell Store developing as envisaged, offering new and growing businesses the environment needed for their success. This is a unique and historic building that provides the space, facilities and support for innovative new and young enterprises to flourish, helping to create local jobs and build skills and expertise. We’re confident the Shell Store will continue to grow and make a vital contribution to supporting the economy of the county.”

Carl Turner, Community Director of TownSq said: “We’re proud to have been appointed as operators of The Shell Store and we’re excited to get started. We’ve already got some founding members on board and we’ll continue working to welcome more to our thriving community.

“The traditional way of working has changed, and the communities that embrace the importance of inclusive and vibrant workspaces will be the ones that stand out to the talented innovators and founders of future enterprise.

“Coworking is the beating heart of all our workspaces; When people from different businesses and industries work alongside each other, there’s a sharing of ideas that can lead to some incredible collaborations. When you create the environment for individuals and businesses to grow, that ripples out to the benefit of the wider community and the local economy.”

The former World War Two munitions factory was transformed in a £7.3m project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a loan from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (MLEP).

Mandy Thorn MBE, Chair of the Marches LEP, said the Shell Store was an excellent example of the LEP delivering on its promise to work with our partners to create the conditions for economic growth and sustainable job creation across the region through its £18m total investment into the Zone.

“We have supported this project through a £2.4m loan from the Marches Investment Fund because it is vital for the long-term success of our economy that we work to encourage and nurture young businesses, help support innovation and provide a business ecosystem which fosters growth. We’re looking forward to the next stage of the Shell Store’s evolution.”

News

New cyber security courses offer protection for businesses

Hereford’s Cyber Quarter, Midlands Centre for Cyber Security has launched a new range of courses to help businesses protect themselves from attacks which are costing SMEs millions of pounds every year.

The centre, based on Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, is offering a range of courses for all levels of technical know-how with cyber attacks on businesses on the rise.

The Cyber Quarter’s Abimbola Sangodoyin said 82 per cent of breaches involved a human element, making it even more vital for employers and employees to spot when attacks are imminent.

“Whether it is use of stolen credentials, phishing, misuse or simply human error, people continue to play a large role in incidents and breaches alike. People are an organisation’s first line of defence against online attacks, so it’s vital that they are properly trained to spot and deal with anything suspicious.

“Cyber threats are forever evolving and becoming more sophisticated. Small and medium sized businesses are a prime target for cyber criminals, with almost one in three businesses suffering breaches or attacks at least once a week.

“Properly trained employees are your cyber-shield – whatever skill level people are at, the Cyber Quarter has a course that will strengthen your security against attack,” added Abimbola, the centre’s CPD manager.

The courses revolve around four themed areas: Information Security Awareness, targeted towards SMEs; Cyber Security Fundamentals, beginner level training for people from an IT background wanting to upskill or reskill into cyber security; Technical Training, an advanced course for existing cyber aware practitioners and Cyber Security Leadership and Management.

There are more than 30 online courses available, catering for the general public and those without specific knowledge through to those in leadership and management.

Managing director of Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, Mark Pearce said the courses were an extension of the wider support for cyber, defence and security businesses on offer through the Cyber Quarte“From cyber security testing to research and development, we have a world-class facility on Skylon Park which can help play an important role in helping businesses across the region and the UK protect themselves from costly attacks. Led by the expert cyber team from the University of Wolverhampton, the courses allow businesses to tap into knowledge which can ensure their online security.”

Ross Cook, Director of Economy and Environment at Herefordshire Council, said: “With the development of our Cyber Quarter, Herefordshire is a key player in the Cyber Valley which spans this county, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and is home to 15 per cent of the UK’s top 600 cyber companies. The specialist centre established through a Joint Venture between the council and the University of Wolverhampton, backed by the academic team from the University’s Cyber Research Institute, allows us to support businesses, develop their skill sets and take the lead in cyber security testing, research and development, building on our local strengths in this area.”

For more information about the courses available, visit www.cyberquarter.co.uk/cpd-training-and-short-courses/

News

Shell Store named as Commercial Development of the Year finalist

The transformation of Hereford’s former munitions site into the county’s first dedicated business incubation centre is in the running for a top property award.

The £7.3m project at the Shell Store on Skylon Park has been shortlisted in the Commercial Development of the Year category of the Insider West Midlands Property Awards.

Barnwood Construction was the principal contractor on the project which saw the First World War site transformed into 2,500 sq metres of flexible and lettable business space under the site’s iconic roofline.

The development, led by Herefordshire Council and Skylon Park and Hereford Enterprise Zone Board will support new and growing enterprises as well providing conference, meeting and office space.

Councillor David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “It has been fantastic to see new life breathed back into the Shell Store, which has played such a significant role in the history of Hereford.

“The building has been transformed around the original steel frame, providing a home for new and young enterprises, helping to build local skills and expertise and drive economic growth.”

Chairman of Hereford Enterprise Zone Andrew Manning Cox said: “As an ‘enterprise zone’, Skylon Park was keen to bring the building back into productive economic use with any development needing to be sensitive to its heritage.

“The Shell Store offers exactly the sort of high-quality start-up and grow-on space which Hereford needs to enable us to nurture the next generation of businesses.”

“New, innovative and growing enterprises will benefit from being part of Skylon Park’s thriving business community with support on-site provided by the Enterprise Zone team and the Marches Growth Hub.”

The success of the transformation involved multiple partners including Quattro Design Architects, One Creative Environments Ltd for the M&E design, Caulmert for the Civils and Structural design and Mace Group as project manager.

Principal contractor Barnwood Construction delivered the refurbishment and fit out of the project and Taylor Lane Timber Frame developed the internal pod structures which sit beneath the building’s historic roofline.

The West Midlands Property Awards – the region’s big celebration of commercial property – will celebrate the best of the region’s real estate successes during a challenging year. Winners will be announced on November 4 at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

The Shell Store was funded by Herefordshire Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a loan from the Marches LEP’s Marches Investment Fund.

It was officially opened by Robert Jenrick, then Secretary of State Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), in July 2021.