£2m enterprise hub to provide workspace for business

A £2million enterprise hub providing workspace for more than 20 small businesses is to be established in vacant space in Stafford 's Shire Hall.

The Staffordshire County Council project will see the area of the building, which formerly housed the town 's library, transformed into the fully service hub.

Like the county council 's other enterprise centres, it will offer office space, reception facilities, meeting areas, networking opportunities and business advice and support.

A total of £1.6million has been secured from the national Getting Building Fund through the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. The remaining cost will be met by the county council or other available funding sources.

The hub will aim to attract businesses from a range of professional services including solicitors, ICT firms and digital businesses.

Work to create the enterprise hub is scheduled to be completed in early 2022 and will form part of the wider long-term regeneration of the Shire Hall.

It will also complement plans to repurpose and redevelop land occupied by vacant buildings - including the former magistrates court and county council 's own Wedgwood Building - off Eastgate Street.

Staffordshire County Council 's cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “The Shire Hall is an iconic building in the heart of Stafford town centre and it is important we bring it back into productive use for the community and the local economy.

“Much consideration has gone into the planning of the hall 's future use and our evidence and research has shown there is a need for provision in the town for small businesses. The enterprise hub facility will be in the former library area to the rear of the building and include all the facilities our target businesses will need. It will follow the model of our other enterprise centres with flexible tenancies and a support team on site.

“A thriving enterprise hub in the Shire Hall will benefit the wider town centre economy and recent investment and planned regeneration undoubtedly make Stafford an attractive place to work and live. How we repurpose our town centres will be critical as we move out of the pandemic period.

“We will be working closely with colleagues at Stafford Borough Council and the LEP throughout this year as we prepare for the hub 's opening in early 2022. ”

Pictured: Shire Hall