Samurai Machine Tools 10

Young mechanic scales up business first started in family garage

by Business spotlightNews

A 21-year-old Warwick mechanic has launched his first commercial product after scaling up a business he first started in his family garage. 

Ben Izen from Stratford upon Avon began his machinery business Samurai Machine Tools whilst still at school, and is now expanding his operations after moving to his first premises at Space Business Centre Warwick.

The 35,000 sq ft development, created and developed by Warwick-based property company AC Lloyd Commercial, contains flexible multi-use units which are available on 30-day monthly rolling agreements.

Space Warwick’s flexibility and unit variety allowed Ben to take the leap and move his budding machinery business out of his parent’s garage.

Ben’s business focuses on the design and manufacture of futuristic CNC machines for the hobby and light industrial market.

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control, meaning the machines run automatically to carve precision components from solid billets of aluminium, stainless steel, or titanium, with these components then used to make cars, planes, rockets.

The young entrepreneur had been building things since the age of five and was introduced to CNC machines when he began building an electric skateboard for a GCSE project, which he completed in his parents’ garage after the school’s machine broke. 

His work on the CNC machine was recognised with an Arkwright Scholarship, which offers mentoring and financial support for emerging talents in engineering and enabled Ben to continue building his CNC machine.

After leaving Warwick School in 2020, Ben continued to work on improving his machine, during the pandemic, using funds his other machinery business Izen Engineering b to launch his own business, Samurai Machine Tools, at just 18 years old.  

After gaining industry interest and building more complex machines, Ben began looking for a larger, more flexible base than his parents’ garage and found Space Warwick in 2023.

He was impressed by the location and facilities on offer for tenants, moving into his own unit this spring.  

The unit has proved to be an excellent fit for Ben and his expansion plans, with the move helping him to secure further investment and launch his first product on the commercial market.

He said: “It is a great new chapter in my business, we were having such a hard time finding a suitable commercial premises to expand my business, until we found Space Business Centre. The sign-up process was simple and we moved into the brand-new unit the day it was opened.”

“Everything about the facility is perfect, from the monthly rolling contract and location to the modern design of the units. The ability to expand into more units as the business grows is something that hopefully I and many others will find exceptionally useful.”

Katherine Skerry, Site Manager at AC Lloyd Space Business Centre Warwick, said: “It is great to hear how a move to Space Warwick has helped Ben’s business expand from his family home into a professional base.

“We are continuing to see high demand for units from small business owners in south Warwickshire and are looking forward to growing our thriving business community and enabling tenants like Ben to grow and explore new ventures.”

Space Opening 28

Eclectic mix of industries deemed good for business at Warwickshire site

by Blog

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.”

DM Space

Mobile bar service created by Gloucestershire woman heads to new permanent base

by Business spotlightNews

A Gloucestershire woman who set up a mobile bar as a part-time project is hoping her new permanent HQ will help serve up even more success.

Leanne Matthews, 31, has lived in Cheltenham for the last 10 years and launched event bar hire business The Drunken Mare in 2018, providing cocktails and bar service across events, weddings and celebrations alongside her full-time job.

After two years packed with events every weekend, Leanne took the business on full time in 2020, launching an online cocktail subscription service to help the business survive during the pandemic.

The former insurance professional has now opened her first permanent premises at Space Business Centre Gloucester, where she is able to meet clients, manage stock, and experiment with new cocktail creations as she bids to take her business to more events across the country.

The Drunken Mare offers a fully customisable event bar service, with the mobile horse box able to switch between a gin bar, cocktail station, or beer shack – all specified by the hosts.

In addition to a range of festivals and weddings in Gloucestershire and beyond, Leanne provided bar services at Love Island winners Alex and Olivia Bowen’s luxury safari-themed baby shower last year.

Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham are owned by property development company AC Lloyd and offer flexible, multi-use units ranging from 275 to 775 sq ft.

Leanne said: “I used to work in insurance and ran the bar hire business on the side every weekend. And then when the pandemic arrived, fortunately we were able to keep going by offering a home cocktail delivery kit.

“It feels like the business has come a long way since then, and it’s really exciting to now be moving out of the home as it continues to grow. We have a packed events schedule with lots of weddings and festivals, so it’s brilliant to have this new facility to help service this.

“To have moved out of my living room feels like a huge step, and I’m looking forward to taking the business to another level in the coming months and years with the flexibility of having a rolling 30-day lease.”

Lucy Iles, Site Manager at Space Business Centre Cheltenham, said: “Leanne is a fantastic addition to our business community in Gloucester, and adds to a really strong line-up of catering and hospitality specialists who cover events across the country from their base at Space Cheltenham.

“She is already well established in the region, and we are thrilled she has chosen Space to help take her business to the next level.”

To find out more about The Drunken Mare visit www.thedrunkenmare.co.uk

For more information about Space Business Centres Cheltenham and Gloucester visit www.aclloydspacebc.com

WhatsApp Image 2023-03-27 at 13.26.34

Gloucestershire businesses get behind local care charity

by News

Dozens of small business owners in Gloucestershire have thrown their support behind a local charity providing care and support for disabled children and young adults as part of a 12-month fundraising partnership.

Resident business owners at Space Business Centres in Gloucester and Cheltenham have chosen the Spring Centre, a Quedgeley based charity which provides care, advice and activities for 90 local children and young adults with additional needs and disabilities and their families, as their charity partner for this year.

The organisation, based at Gardner House in Olympus Business Park, is just a few minutes’ walk from Space Gloucester, with facilities including a playground, specialised sensory play equipment and a young adults centre to support their programme of activities.

Space Cheltenham and Gloucester are owned by property developers AC Lloyd. More than 100 small businesses operate across the two sites, and all will have the opportunity to help fundraise for the Spring Centre throughout the year thanks to the new link.

The first fundraising event, a coffee and cake morning, will take place on Wednesday, April 5 with all proceeds set to be donated to the Spring Centre.

The Spring Centre was established in 1994 and provides support throughout the Gloucestershire area, with services including after school clubs, sensory play sessions and day trips.

Gail Harrison, Marketing and Administration Assistant at the Spring Centre, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the charity partner of Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham for this year.

“The team have been so supportive in this early stage and I am looking forward to working with them to raise money for our wide range of activities and support that we provide to people across the area.”

During school term-time, the charity operates a preschool family drop-in service where parents can get funding advice and access support services, as well as themed sensory play sessions and after school clubs with hot food provision for children over eight.

The centre also organises day trips and respite activities for children over 8, family focused ‘stay and play’ sessions for children under 8 and a sibling support group during the school holidays.

It also runs a young adult day care service for users aged between 16 and 35, which includes a dedicated lounge area, kitchen and craft zone to support a weekly programme of skill-based learning.

Lucy Iles, site manager at AC Lloyd Space Business Centres, said: “It is wonderful to have a local charity that does great work in our community as our chosen charity for the year.

“We will be supporting the Spring Centre through various events and activities to raise funds, so they can continue to support disabled children and young adults, and their families in our community – and we hope to see lots of new faces at our first event in April.”

Black Belt Space

Martial arts belt makers move into new Gloucester base to keep up with global demand

by Business spotlightNews

A Gloucestershire couple who supply martial arts belts across the world have moved their business out of the home to keep up with global demand.

Anja Hill, a martial art tutor originally from Germany and now living in Gloucestershire, has run Black Belt Embroidery, a specialist martial arts embroidery business since 2010, with her husband Tim Hill, who she met through the martial arts community, joining the team in 2019. 

And now, the couple are celebrating sewing up new orders as they move into a bigger business premises at Space Business Centre Gloucester to meet demand.  

Anja spotted a lack of options in the UK market to customise the belts used to represent a student’s ability level and decided to start her own business in the two-room top floor of the couple’s home.

Over a decade in business, the company continues to go from strength to strength and now supplies belt to students, instructors and martial art clubs across the world, expanding its services to include options to customise existing belts, buy pre-designed belts or create their own.  

Following an increase in domestic and international orders from countries including Sweden, Australia and the United States, and the couple wanted to expand their premises and purchase new machinery to meet demand.

The couple knew they wanted a unit near to their Gloucestershire home, and were attracted to Space Business Centre in Gloucester due to the flexible contract lengths and variety of unit sizes on offer.

Anja said: “We both work as instructors in the martial arts and started the business over a decade ago, because we are really passionate about working in the sport we love and proud to have expanded our client base and improved product range.

“Following a house downsize, we struggled with storage for the business and decided to look at renting alternate premises and really liked the look of Space Gloucester, with its easily commutable location and flexible contracts.

“The Space team were great as we worked through our application and we couldn’t be happier with the move, with the mezzanine level of our unit being the perfect layout for creating separation between the office space upstairs and the embroidery machines downstairs.”

Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham are owned by property development company AC Lloyd and offer flexible, multi-use units ranging from 275 to 775 sq ft.

Lucy Iles, site manager at AC Lloyd Space Business in Gloucester, said: “It is great see how easily Anja and Tim at Black Belt Embroidery have settled into their unit since arriving at Space Business Centre.

“It is wonderful to welcome Black Belt Embroidery, a unique growing business as part of the community at Space Gloucester and I look forward to hearing about their future success.”

Space Business Centre 17

New £5.5m flexible business unit scheme set to open in Warwickshire

by News

A new £5.5 million business and industrial scheme is set to open to the public, creating dozens of opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Space Business Centre Warwick will be fully operational from the end of February and its developer AC Lloyd is hoping it will give business owners in Warwickshire and the West Midlands more opportunities to grow their existing operations or start new ones.

The Warwick-based property company is aiming to replicate the success of its Space Business Centres in Gloucester and Cheltenham, which are regularly at capacity with an ever-changing roster of local-businesses, in its home county.

Tony Hargreave, Property Asset Manager at AC Lloyd, said a host of industries from retail, manufacturing, professional services and catering will be able to make use of the business park, which is located near AC Lloyd’s headquarters in Tachbrook Park.

He said: “We are now just a few days away from opening our new Space Business Centre Warwick with a number of tenants already signed up and ready to get to work.

“The variety in the units is designed to accommodate a wide range of purposes, with mezzanine levels among the options, and we hope to see a vibrant business community develop here in the coming months and years.”

Space Business Centre Warwick is comprised of 61 units ranging in size from 285 sq ft to 840 sq ft along with two facilities blocks containing a kitchen, toilets and shower room.

One or two car-parking spaces will be allocated to each unit and there will be 12 electric car charging points installed along with solar panels on some of the roofs and a cycle shelter at the 35,000 sq ft development. Landscaping and green planting is also set to take place ahead of the official opening.

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Local business is first to sign up to new flexible premises scheme

by Uncategorized

A Leamington entrepreneur has become the first tenant to sign up to a new £5.5 million flexible business premises scheme in Warwickshire.

Danny Ahern, owner of freight forwarding and logistics recruitment specialist DEOS Staffing, will move operations to the new Space Business Centre Warwick when it opens next month.

The Leamington-based business owner is the first company to sign a licence agreement at the park, which is aimed at start-ups and fast-growing business wanting flexible units to promote growth.

The move will see Danny take the business out of his home and into its first official premises.

DEOS Staffing is a specialist recruitment firm for the freight and manufacturing industry, working with clients in the UK, US and Europe.

Danny, an experienced recruitment professional, launched the business in 2020 to support one of the few sectors that kept going during Covid-19.

He said: “I had been looking for a first real HQ for the business for a while, and when I saw that units were available at Space I jumped at the chance.

“We have employees based in the US and Europe, and we have all worked remotely up to now, but Space Warwick will give us the opportunity to have a recognised headquarters, which will be increasingly important as the business grows.

“The whole process has been incredibly smooth and we can’t wait to get started.”

The move will allow Danny to continue his growth plans from a local headquarters, with the security of a 30-day rolling agreement.

Sixty-one units are currently under construction at Space Business Centre Warwick, ranging in size from 285 sq ft to 840 sq ft along with two facilities blocks containing a kitchen, toilets and shower room.

One or two car-parking spaces will be allocated to each unit and there will be 12 electric car charging points installed along with solar panels on some of the roofs and a cycle shelter at the 35,000 sq ft development.

Mark Edwards, Managing Director of AC Lloyd Commercial, said: “Interest in Space Business Centre Warwick is really ramping up as we near completion, and we are thrilled that our first tenant is local to the site.

“The fact that we are receiving lots of interest from Warwickshire entrepreneurs is in line with the scheme’s aim to support and facilitate growth for businesses in the region, and we are looking forward to seeing Danny’s progress.”

Fill Your Boots

Zero-waste shop celebrates third anniversary at Space

by Uncategorized

A Gloucester nurse is celebrating her third year helping people cut down on plastic after opening a zero-waste essentials shop during the pandemic.  

Private care nurse and mum of three, Louise Coleman launched loose food and home essentials shop Fill Your Boots at Space Business Centre Gloucester in January 2020.

Having been open only a matter of weeks before the pandemic and facing an uncertain future, Louise is now celebrating her third year in operation and is hoping to reach more of the Gloucestershire public.

The outlet offers customers a range of loose food, household items and eco-friendly products with a focus on sustainable, packaging-free shopping, as well as zero-waste party pack hires.

Louise was inspired to start the business after her children made her more aware of the impact plastic packaging has on the environment.

She said: “The pandemic was unintentionally a great time for me to start the business. Customers were able to spend more time choosing their purchases and thinking reflectively about the food they purchased, and lots of them have shopped with us ever since.

“The flexibility offered by units at the Space Business Centre also helped with the changing of restrictions, meaning we were able to respond quickly to keep customers safe.

“The short-term contracts available also helped to ease my worries during that time of upheaval and have given me the flexibility to grow my business the way I want to.

“With all my children attending school from next year, I am hoping to really grow the business and with the potential to move into a new unit, the future is looking bright.”

Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham are owned by property development company AC Lloyd and offer flexible, multi-use units ranging from 275 to 775 sq ft.

Lucy Iles, site manager at AC Lloyd Space Business in Gloucester and Cheltenham, said: “It is absolutely brilliant to see how much Fill Your Boots has grown since arriving at the Space Business Park in Gloucester.

“Fill Your Boots is a wonderful member of the community here as we continue to expand our retail offering, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to enjoy a different way of food shopping that helps customers reduce their impact on the environment while enjoying a friendly and engaging shopping experience.”

IMG_7492

Model business is scaling up

by Business spotlightNews

An independent Gloucester business has scaled up to a larger premises to help meet customer demand after a successful first year in the models and collectables trade.

Model enthusiast and entrepreneur John Hutchinson launched Gloster Models in March 2022, and has now taken on a larger premises at Space Business Centre in Gloucester after running out of room to house his expanding product range.

John praised Space Business Centres, which is owned by property developers AC Lloyd and has sites in Gloucester and Cheltenham, for its flexibility entrepreneurial environment, saying the location had been essential to the growth of the business.

John’s outlet at the Quedgeley-based Space Business Centre is a licensed Warhammer retailer and originally specialised in historical gaming and models.

The product range now includes three different Star Wars ranges, Flames of War – a World War II tabletop miniatures wargame, and traditional models from manufactures such as Airfix, as well as a variety of paints and finishing products.

A Gloster Models website is also in the works, with John hoping to attract customers from across the country, as well as visitors from Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas with a range of discounts and offers in store.

John said: “Like all businesses who are upscaling, we have faced challenges with increased overheads and tighter margins, but introducing discounts and then also having the piece of mind that we are on a 30-day rolling agreement at our premises at Space Business Centre have made it achievable.

“We are extremely excited about the next chapter with a new website under construction to connect us with the wider models and collectables market, while our new larger unit means we can offer a wider range of models – with even more Warhammer products, and Airfix now added to our range.”

Lucy Iles, Site Manager at Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham, said: “It’s extremely pleasing to see the progress John has made over the past few months, and showcases the potential that our flexible units have to support start-up businesses of all kinds.

“The new premises represent the next step for him and his businesses, and we are excited to see where he goes from there.”

Xmas Space

Gloucestershire businesses band together to raise money for charity

by EventsNews

Small business owners from across Gloucestershire have joined forces to host an independent Christmas shopping experience in aid of a local hospice.

A host of street food vendors, bakeries and handmade gift creators will join other Cheltenham and Gloucester businesses to host Christmas at Space – a festive get together to raise money for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice – at Space Business Centre Gloucester next month.

The site in Olympus Park, Quedgeley, is home to more than 50 independent businesses, with tenants set to be joined by residents of its sister site Cheltenham Space Business Centre, as well as guest businesses from across the region on Sunday, December 4 from 10am to 2pm.

In addition to a range of festive goodies on offer to the public, from personalised art and unique homeware to mouth-watering BBQ and baked goods and collectible models, Space Business Centres has teamed up with Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice to a host a charity raffle with a range of prizes available.

Space resident James Brown, of JB event hire, is a long-term supporter of the charity. He said: “It’s brilliant that the Space family and other local traders have come together to raise money for such an important local charity whist showcasing all of the great products and services they have to offer.

“It will be a very special event and one that I hope will continue over the years to come. We are really looking forward to this Christmas event and hope to see you all there.”

Alysia Cameron-Price, Community Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: “A visit to the Space event is a great way to kick-start the festive season and tick off some Christmas gifts from your list, all while raising vital funds for families needing our care.

“It’s an honour to see so many local businesses join forces to support us and we hope that the community will get behind them.”

Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham are owned by property development company AC Lloyd and offer flexible, multi-use units ranging from 275 to 775 sq ft. Their 30-day licences are designed to support new businesses that have outgrown the kitchen table.

Lucy Iles, site manager at Space Gloucester and Cheltenham, said: “We are incredibly excited to be hosting our inaugural Christmas at Space.

“It’s a great chance for visitors to find out more about the incredible businesses that make up the Space family, as well as pick up some Christmas gifts and try some fantastic food.

“We hope that we will not only have a brilliant turn out in support of local small businesses, but also raise funds for Sue Ryder through our Christmas raffle, and we’d love to hear from guest businesses interested in joining us on the day.”