A new Warwickshire-based innovation centre has opened its doors to its first corporate customer.
Concept Academies, a Coventry-based independent training provider which organises learning courses for adults across the county, was the first company to host an event at the new Rural Innovation Centre at Stoneleigh Park.
The firm was set up in 2009 and offers nationally recognised training qualifications in teaching, management, assessment and lifelong learning.
The courses run for six to 12 weeks and combine online learning with practical assessment workshops.
Diane Thomas, managing director at Concept Academies, said: “The assessment classes allow those that are training to put into practice the skills they have learnt throughout the online programme.
“I usually host the classes in hotel conference rooms but I wanted to branch out and find a space that looked more professional.
“The new centre is perfect and exactly what I was looking for. It has fantastic modern facilities with rooms that are very bright, airy and peaceful. It also has great catering facilities and parking.
“It is perfect to suit the needs of the course, as it is in a central location but not too close to the city centre.”
The Rural Innovation Centre has been created to support small firms in rural areas of Warwickshire as part of a major initiative to boost the rural economy.
The centre has 16 offices to suit businesses ranging in size from two to six people, and will offer a host of advice and support services free of charge for tenants.
It is a part of the Rural Growth Network funded by DEFRA, and led by Warwickshire County Council on behalf of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The County Council and other partners in the Rural Growth Network project are working closely with LaSalle Investment Management to provide services and assist with the promotion of the Rural Innovation Centre.
LaSalle took responsibility for Stoneleigh Park in December 2010 under a 150-year lease from RASE and is revitalising the site as an internationally-renowned centre for agriculture, rural business, science and innovation.
Liz Burkinshaw, Rural Innovation Centre manager said: “It was fantastic to welcome our first guests to the centre, which offers the perfect environment for growing businesses to rent out office space and hold corporate events.
“The centre is able to accommodate businesses from any sector and it was great to hear that Diane was able to take advantage of the other facilities on site, such as the Café and Hotel.”