Member Article

Business centre brings new companies to Hope Valley

Four thriving new companies have joined Hathersage Hall Business Centre recently and the Centre is now approaching full capacity, demonstrating a clear upturn in business confidence for the Hope Valley.

Vestey Foods UK Ltd has taken 1,000 sq ft of space over two floors of The Coach House for its poultry, seed and pulse trading divisions. Software development firm Acumen Synergy has taken 850 sq ft of space in The Glass House. JES Accountancy and Burwood Construction have also moved to the Centre.

The 12,500 sq ft Hathersage Hall Business Centre, which comprises six original Grade II listed farm buildings and two new builds, was developed by the Shuttleworth Estate, owned by a family who have lived in Hathersage for over 200 years.

Commenting on the new lettings, owner Michael Shuttleworth, said: “We saw a real lift in enquiry levels over the Summer and this has resulted in the arrival of a variety of new businesses as well as expansion by existing tenants.

“Our vision for Hathersage Hall Business Centre was not only to save these wonderful historic buildings from dereliction but to create desirable work space in the heart of the Peak District National Park. I’m a firm believer that to drive the economic recovery locally we need to support the creation of new knowledge-based jobs right here in the heart of the Hope Valley. We made sure that our workspaces were designed to be of the highest possible quality to attract successful companies to relocate into our area and also to provide inspirational places for local entrepreneurs to base themselves.”

Carl Scothorne, Head of the Poultry Division of Vestey Foods UK Ltd, backs Michael’s vision. He said: “I live in a village just a few miles up the road but had been wasting time and energy commuting into Manchester for some time. It wasn’t difficult to persuade the rest of the team of 7 that moving to the Hathersage Hall Business Centre was a good idea and they have all come with us. One guy lives in Hyde, only 8 miles from Manchester centre, and yet his commute used to take 45 minutes. He can now get to Hathersage in less time and enjoy a lovely drive on the way!”

He continues: “Being in Hathersage has enabled us to attract other specialists to the team, people who want to continue to live and work locally and we are already looking to expand the team over the coming months. Being so close to both Sheffield and Manchester gives us a really wide catchment area to draw upon.”

Several members of the team from Acumen Synergy live locally and had visited the Centre previously for training sessions in The Glass House conference facility last year. They liked the location, the design of the buildings and the quality of finish and so decided to take space for their new start-up company in The Glass House conference building.

The new tenants join existing companies including data processors Dental IT, corporate social responsibility specialists FWA, digital construction illustrators Marsotti, CQM Training, software company Illuminaries and Malaczynski Burn Risk Management.

www.hathersagebusiness.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hill Dickinson .