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Northumberland College secures £60k to develop Kirkley Hall into enterprise hub

Following planning approval and a grant award from the North East Rural Growth Network, work is now underway to create the regions latest rural enterprise hub at Kirkley Hall in Northumberland.

The new hub will expand the existing enterprise activity that already takes place at Kirkley Hall, near Ponteland which currently includes community events, training and activities associated with 900 students, zoological gardens, farm, equestrian centre, café and conference venue.

Northumberland College has secured a £60k grant from the North East Rural Growth Network to develop Kirkley Hall into a recognised business centre for Northumberland.

The hub will be based in the courtyard area of the main listed building and will support local businesses and people wishing to start up new businesses.

The new development will also pilot a new approach to renting small office and flexible workshop space to micro-enterprises, and provide access to rural enterprise support services.

The Kirkley Hall Enterprise Hub will be operational from February 2015.

Marcus Clinton, principal and CEO Northumberland College said: “The approval of the planning application is a major step forward for the project and we are excited about turning the plans into reality. As a College we are passionate about enterprise and at every opportunity engaging with and supporting employers and business.

“Forging these links and being part of the hub network will further the exciting developments at our Kirkley Hall Campus, which has been a centre for enterprise with many students getting involved in real work projects such as our zoological gardens and outdoor activity centre.

“Being able to further support our students and wider budding entrepreneurs to start a business is immensely exciting and everything the college should be about”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .