Help for small businesses

The "Wiltshire Incubation Environment" is a stupid name for a worthwhile scheme which aims to help small businesses get started.

The Project will deliver space with common resources for tenants to access facilities and services that they would not normally be able to access in the early stages of their growth, but which can be provided on a 'pay as you go' or inclusive basis. Expert support and coaching is available to help people grow their business.

Initially the sites will be within the Castledown Business Centre in Ludgershall and the Glove Factory Studios at Holt. If any of the proposed WC 'campuses' ever materialise then they might also contain start-up facilities.

£375,000 of capital funding has been allocated to the project, subject to getting a similar amount from the European Union.

Trowbridge and West Wiltshire have been badly hit by the economic downturn with both skilled and unskilled jobs being lost. The departure of Vodaphone and Virgin Mobile makes the situation even worse. The WIE scheme should help to develop small businesses which will provide more reliable replacement employment.

For more detail see the cabinet supplementary papers at http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/mgConvert2Pdf.aspx?ID=17024&T=9