YEOVIL NEWS: Innovation centre expansion plans get started

WORK to expand the Yeovil Innovation Centre has started which will lead to further accommodation being provided for local businesses.

It comes about after South Somerset District Council was successful in gaining £442,000 funding from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership.

The innovation centre – opposite Yeovil Town Football Club - has been very successful to date and a number of enquiries for additional smaller office accommodation are regularly received.

Phase Two works will see the development of approximately 9,500sq feet of flexible office accommodation to enable more start up and small businesses in the high–tech and innovation fields to establish, expand and benefit from working with similar businesses at the existing Yeovil Innovation Centre.

The stylish new extension building will be built to a high standard with very modern and flexible accommodation offerings. It will face Copse Road and link into the existing innovation centre building. Work on site by Midas Construction commenced at the end of November and is scheduled to be completed before the end of summer 2018.

The district council’s economic development spokesman, Cllr Jo Roundell Greene, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the LEP on this priority economic development project.

“It has been a key objective for the Council and I am pleased to see it coming to fruition, after much hard work and detailed planning. It will also be very interesting to see the new, innovative businesses that it will attract and support for the future.”

Steve Hindley, chairman of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This new extension will add flexible office space for more businesses to start up and benefit from working in this innovative environment.” 

The Yeovil Innovation Centre is an evolving business community aimed at ambitious organisations and entrepreneurs looking for a flexible, prestigious, low-cost solution with space for growth.

PHOTO – TOP: Pictured (from left) are Christian Hookway, senior site manager for Midas Construction); Rebecca McElliott, economic development officer for South Somerset District Council; Chris Garcia, chief executive, of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership; Clive Gorrett, operational manager for Midas Construction; Cllr Jo Roundell Greene, of South Somerset District Council; Liz Smalley, Innovation Centre manager from South Somerset District Council; and Mike Borkowski, business development director for Midas Construction.

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