Partner Article

Hartlepool Hub Two officially open for business

Hartlepool Hub Two, Tata Steel’s business-support subsidiary has officially opened for business.

The extension to the UKSE Innovation Centre on the Queens Meadow Business Park is already 60% full, dispelling the fears of those who were concerned that there would not be enough demand.

Speaking to an audience of local business people, Stuart Green managing director of UK Steel Enterprise commented: “We were confident that the demand was there for us to commit to developing Hub Two.

“Our two Innovation Centres in Redcar and Hartlepool have had a 90% occupancy rate since they were opened in 2000 and 2005.

“Our Redcar Centre has already been extended and, with 60% of the new offices in Hub Two already occupied, our confidence has been justified. We already have companies here operating in a whole range of sectors from energy to construction and IT to health.

Uk Steel Enterprise was established in 1975 with the aim of helping steel areas with regeneration and job creation. They can provide up to £750,000 in funding for the right projects, and are designed to provide high levels of sector specific support.

Hub Two will double the size of the Innovation Centre, providing 37,000 sq ft of office and workshop space. The new building is also environmentally friendly, with high numbers of solar panels, rainwater saving technology, intelligent lighting systems and an electric vehicle charger.

Mr Green added: “We are very grateful indeed for the finance and backing we have had from One NorthEast, Tees Valley Unlimited and Hartlepool Borough Council in developing Hub Two.

“This building would not be here without their support and we are also grateful to P & HS Architects, Project Managers Turner & Townsend and Mansell Construction Services for delivering a fantastic building.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .