Fledgling firms at a new innovation centre in Hampshire are to receive advisory support from one of the leading business experts in the region.
Richard May is to be the innovation director at BASE Bordon Innovation Centre at Broxhead House, Louisburg Barracks, Whitehill & Bordon, East Hampshire.
The enterprise hub, geared at start-ups and scales ups, is run by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading innovation centre operator.
There are 31 offices on flexible rental terms, along with co-working space, meeting rooms for hire and virtual offices.
Richard’s role will be to provide the consultancy he has supplied to various companies at Oxford Innovation’s other three centres in south Hampshire – Fareham Innovation Centre, Portsmouth Technopole and Ocean Village Innovation Centre in Southampton.
A service provided to all occupiers at Oxford Innovation centres at no additional cost, he will provide local business owners with strategic advice, impactful introductions and ecosystem development.
Stephen Brownlie, Oxford Innovation’s regional manager in the South, said: “Start-ups may have great ideas and energy but monetising products and services, and all that comes with that, can be daunting and challenging.
“Evidence shows that fledgling firms and scale ups stand a better chance of success and growth with external support, hence why we have Richard as innovation director.
“He has a demonstrable track record in help businesses survive and thrive through a range of tried-and-tested process – he is very much valued as a ‘critical friend’ at our centres.”
Richard said: “The remit will be to help start-ups and scale-up firms at BASE Bordon Innovation Centre commercialise ideas and improve innovation management, develop internal processes, find new sources of finance, tap into new customers, build and enhance their business models, protect and harness ideas, launch market campaigns and step up exports.”
He added: “BASE Bordon Innovation Centre is on track to become a vibrant business community, accelerating and stimulating enterprise and creating inward investment, jobs and growth rates.
“The positive economic impact of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) on local supply chains and areas should never be underestimated.
“There are currently 5.4 million businesses in the UK, of which more than 99% are SMEs and most are micro firms employing fewer than 10 people.
“The Office for National Statistics estimates that SMEs create around £35 of gross value added to the UK economy for every £100 of turnover, while larger companies create around £24.”
Finishing touches have been put to BASE Bordon Innovation Centre following an extensive 18-month refurbishment project undertaken by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Owned by the HCA, the Innovation Centre has been significantly funded by a £4 million Local Growth Fund investment from Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The former military base at Louisburg Barracks, Bordon, upon which BASE stands, is being regenerated in a £50m mixed scheme, including hundreds of homes around BASE.
Due to open in late November 2017, BASE is located within the government-backed EZ³ Enterprise Zone and offers a range of benefits for eligible businesses.
They include up to 100% business rates discount, worth up to £275,000 over a five-year period, high-quality business support, expert support to help access the government’s R&D tax credit scheme and access to global markets through the Department for International Trade.
