Budding entrepreneurs and business owners considering their first commercial premise could find the answer in Start-Up Street – with new centres being developed across Renfrewshire.
Start-Up Street is the Renfrewshire Council initiative offering new and growing businesses low-cost, high-quality workspace and wraparound support.
It is already proving a great success in Paisley where 30 small businesses are benefiting from the first-class facilities at George Street and now, two more Start-Up Street centres are being built in Johnstone and Renfrew.
Subsidised premise costs cover the workspace, wifi, utility bills and provide access to meeting space, with lease costs incrementally increased until the business owner is ready to move to an alternative Renfrewshire commercial space.
The Paisley and Renfrew centres include an enterprise manager on site to provide support and guidance, while all centres have access to free Business Gateway advice, mentoring, workshops and masterclasses as part of the package.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson visited the developing Start-Up Street centres in Renfrew and Johnstone.
In Renfrew, significant refurbishment and upgrade works are being undertaken to transform vacant retail units on Dunlop Crescent. External improvements to the shop fronts and enabling works inside are now complete, with the internal fit-out starting in April.
In Johnstone, the Start-Up Street facilities will focus on supporting health and wellbeing businesses and form part of the new Station Seven premises run by Active Communities, with businesses able to work with community groups and people using its facilities.
Councillor Nicolson said: “It’s great to see the progress being made on the new Start-Up Street centres. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Start-Up Street in Paisley and got to meet the many entrepreneurs and business owners who told me how it is helping them, and I’m delighted that we are expanding this excellent offer to help even more Renfrewshire businesses.
“The initial idea came from a local business survey which showed many Renfrewshire business owners wanted to take the next step and open their first commercial space, but were put off by high costs and a lack of know-how. Start-Up Street provides the answer and with each centre being based in a town centre, it provides an important boost to the local economy too.”
Visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/Start-Up-Street, call 0141 530 2406 or email renfrewshire@bgateway.com to find out more about the opportunities at Start-Up Street.
