Mark Edwards, Managing Director of AC Lloyd Commercial, reflects on the eclectic mix of entrepreneurs setting up at Space Business Centre Warwick since opening in February.
The 35,000 sq ft development created and operated by AC Lloyd Commercial contains flexible, multi-use units available on 30-day monthly rolling agreements, and business owners from a wide range of industries are helping to turn Space Warwick into a thriving business community.
“We are thrilled at the early progress the site is making. Working closely with our site manager Kat Skerry, we have been able to place a number of talented, driven entrepreneurs into units that we hope will be the catalysts for growth for them and their businesses,” Mark said.
“Already, we have seen business conducting international trade, providing manufacturing innovations and offering popular services that people in and around Warwickshire are making use of.
“Our units not only provide practical space for storage and workshops – they also become the face of their business when dealing with clients and the public.
“As we approach a 40 per cent occupancy in the first few months after opening, the site already boasts a really interesting cross-section of businesses, particularly those that rely on regularly engaging with the Warwickshire public.
“We’ve had Precious Pooches, a fantastic independent dog groomer join us making use of their unit to host clients, as well as using it as a base to head out across the region.
“Kirsty Jacobs Personal Trainer set up her studio recently and it’s a perfect place to host exercise classes, especially for people living and working around the site.
“Tommicks provides electrical and aquatic engineering services, so it’s of course fantastic to have a base between Leamington and Warwick and so many residential areas with lots of potential clients.
“We have also had Blencowe’s Bakery join us as they expand from Oxfordshire. High quality bakeries are popular almost regardless of location, but with a business community, retail park and residential areas all within reach, Space is a great location for walk-ins and local deliveries.
“Our Cheltenham and Gloucester sites are also thriving with excellent food and drink creators who cover events across the country, and Space Warwick definitely has the potential to replicate that trend.
“As the site progresses towards capacity, we can see the early stages of a bustling business destination where both the public and corporate clients will feed off the entrepreneurial spirit on site with so much going on.
“Just as important as Space being a hive of activity is the fact that, with the way our units are set up and the nature of the business owners who are joining us, there is a strong personal element that you don’t find in many retail and services environments.
“Visitors can get to know the people they are doing business with and see how things work, which we think is a brilliant prospect and a fantastic advantage for business owners setting up here compared to elsewhere in terms of building connections and developing a regular client base.
“We have seen that collaboration is also a possibility not just between the businesses at Space Warwick, but with our Space Business Centres in Cheltenham and Gloucester, and we hope that this network will extend to other small business owners across Tachbrook Park and the rest of Warwickshire.
“There is so much opportunity for growth and the potential for even more industries and sectors to make use of Space Warwick, and we can’t wait to see the results in the coming months and years.”