Smarter Working Centre coming to Lyndhurst

Hampshire County Council has agreed a grant of £9,000 to set up a Smarter Working Centre in Lyndhurst.

Smarter Working Centres offer entrepreneurs, business start-ups, home-based businesses and commuters the chance to work and meet locally and avoid the stress and cost of the peak-time journey to work. Smarter Working Centre members also benefit from the access to support, training and advice from expert organisations such as Job Centre Plus, Enterprise First, and Business Link (now incorporating Train to Gain).

Accommodation and usage costs are kept low at Smarter Working Centres by offering users the option of  'pay as you use' or discounted prepaid usage options. Depending upon the membership package chosen, work-space can work out at as little as £3 per hour or £10 per day. Even less if organisations are willing to pre-book longer periods.

Businesses interested in using a smarter working centre can find out more at the website http://www.smarterworkingcentreshiow.org.uk. The site provides an easy introduction for those new to the concept of Smarter Working Centres and offers a real-time space availability checker, on-line booking and secure on-line payment.

The new Smarter Working Centre will be operated by Lyndhurst and District Community Association. It will be located at the community centre and library building, which the association secured lottery funding to completely renew. The redesign includes initial provision for the for dedicated four work spaces and shared meeting/training space that can be booked on-line, by phone or by dropping into the centre. will be on offer to people wanting to take up Smarter Working.

Lyndhurst and District Community Association have committed to investing in business level broadband and wireless connectivity for the centre and they will also provide meet and greet services for people using the Smarter Working Centre via their reception staff.

Councillor Jonathan Glen, Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “A Smarter Working Centre offers affordable pay-as-you-go, no commitment, business accommodation for commuters, business start-ups, remote workers and particularly existing home based businesses.

“Through the experience of its Trustees and close ties with the New Forest Business partnership the Lyndhurst and District Community Association is ideally placed to run a Smarter Working Centre. The newly refurbished building will provide a good working environment and is centrally located.”

The Hampshire Smarter Working Centre network will be established over the coming months. Facilities are already available in Whitchurch, Fordingbridge, Havant and Gosport and grants have also been awarded to set up centres in Aldershot, Fareham, and Basingstoke.

Smarter Working Centres are one of four initiatives the County Council has introduced to help local businesses to assist workers and help independent businesses develop new opportunities to prosper in the economic downturn.  The projects are funded with £425,000 from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI). They were created following the work of the Senate to identify action that could be taken by local authorities to help businesses in the economic downturn.

The other measures the County Council has put in place includes a retail support package which aims to help local retailers improve their online presence, encourage consumers into the town centres and provide new skills to redundant shop workers . There are also grants available to enable the voluntary and community sector to offer work experience and volunteering places helping people to gain new skills and grants to encourage businesses to take on apprentices.

ENDS

Notes for editors

Maximum match funding available is £9,000 split into two elements - £4,500 for set up costs and £4,500 for year one operational support

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