The keys to The Hive, North Somerset’s landmark new workspace and business development centre whichopens to tenants in May, were officially handed over from South West regional building contractors Pollard to owners North Somerset Enterprise Agency this week.
The Hive will support the launch, development and success of start-up and growing local businesses by delivering an array of on-site business support from an experienced, knowledgeable and locally-based team of advisors, alongside a range of resources and services and some 20,000 sq. ft of rentable managed office space and communal facilities.
Based in the Business Quarter of Weston Park, in the Junction 21 Enterprise Area of Weston-super-Mare and on the former old airfield site, The Hive will provide 40-60 tenants with unfurnished offices, easy-in and easy-out terms, dedicated and secure broadband and a managed business reception, plus virtual office services, hot desks and meeting rooms to non-tenants.
The Hive will also be an enterprise hub for local firms to do business, benefit from advice, support and training from North Somerset Enterprise Agency and be able to meet, share experiences and network with other businesses.
The new development has been enabled by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund, alongside funding from owners North Somerset Enterprise Agency (NSEA), a not-for-profit organisation with social objectives, which will own, manage and be based at The Hive.
With the aim of stimulating, encouraging and supporting local enterprise NSEA has been helping new and existing small and medium sized businesses in the locality for over 25 years and in its time has helped some 3,000 new enterprises to start up and around 3500 local jobs to be created.
The delivery of The Hive results from a close working relationship betweenPollard, the Somerset-based building contractor whose team has undertaken the project which took just over a year to complete, architectural practice AWW and project managers CBRE, who together helped turn the project’s ambitious vision into a reality.
Handing over the key to NSEA Chief Executive Angela Hicks on Monday April 28, Mark Smith, Contracts Director at Pollard said: “We are delighted to be delivering the keys for The Hive to Angela and her team. The development has been a partnership from the outset by all involved, which has been reflected in the success of the scheme.
“As can be seen here today, our client has an exceptional building in which they will be able to meet their objectives of assisting and supporting businesses to grow. We are proud to have played a part in that vision.”
Accepting the keys, Angela Hicks added: “The handover of the keys for The Hive marks a momentous moment for business support in North Somerset. Now, businesses in the area have a building they can be proud to be part of, can become involved with and within which they can access all the advice and support they need to start-up and grow successfully.
“We are grateful to our project team, which includes CBRE, AWW, Pollard, the Sweet Group, Hoare Lea and Hydrock Structures for the hard work they have put into bringing our building to fruition. Once we have relocated our offices this week The Hive will be open for business, ahead of our official opening in July, and we greatly look forward to showing local companies the new facilities that are now on their doorstep.”
The Hive will feature an “Express Business Lounge” enabling people who need a hot desk facility in a smart professional business environment to buy space by the hour or day, sustainable transport options with pool cycles and showers and an electric vehicle charger and will be the home of North Somerset Business Club, which is run by NSEA.
The building, which is designed to be energy-efficient and sustainable, incorporates many energy-saving measures, avoiding air conditioning and including natural ventilation and lighting, photovoltaic cells and solar panels on the roof.
Ian Hunt, Architect and Associate at AWW added: “We are proud to be associated with this building which will help new businesses in the area to develop and grow. This has been a particularly satisfying project for us which we hope will help the local economy and will lead to the creation of many new jobs.
“We are very pleased with the building’s green credentials – it has an “A” rated EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) which is very rare.”
