Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

The incubator - E-Space North, which was developed at a cost of £1.1m - is part of a two pronged initiative by the East Cambridgeshire District Council seeking to replicate the success of incubators such as St John’s Innovation Centre. The sister project - E-Space South, developed at a cost of £400k - is based in Ely.

E-Space North in Littleport - which will see its first occupants move in in early September - has 26 units between 250 and 650 sq ft, and East Cambridgeshire District Council is already looking for European funding to develop a 19 acre site opposite the current development.

Neil Henry of ECDC believes that Littleport’s objective 5b status will be key in securing funding for the project.

He said: “Littleport is one of those areas targeted by the EU for economic regeneration - European funding played a large part in E-Space North being larger than E-Space South.

“If funding is secured for the new site - which is very close to E-Space North, it could well encourage interest in the existing incubator. If start-up ventures feel that they have plenty of room to grow in a particular area, that could well act as a catalyst for demand for space in the area.”

Unit sizes in the two incubators range from 150 sq ft to 650 sq ft, with the option to take on more than one unit.

The incubators will offer serviced workspace with business support facilities, a reception service with telephone answering, a meeting room, and a sophisticated phone and data system with category 5 cabling.

Henry believes that there is real demand for hi-tech business space in east Cambs.

He said: “There is nothing speculative about this project - there is a real demand for business space in this area - as other recent developments show.

“The E-Space incubators are aimed at innovative people in the Fen area who are currently running their ventures from home, companies who are keen to relocate to the area to become part of the Silicon Fen phenomenon, and small ventures already in the area that cannot afford the rents in the immediate Cambridge area.”

“These incubators are not just office space - both buildings can also be used for Research and Development, which we anticipate will be a major selling point.”

Barker Storey Matthews, who are acting as agents for the properties, have solid commitments for six of the units at E-Space North, and 4 at E-Space South.

St Johns Innovation Centre is confident of securing funding to support both incubators with ‘Outreach Counselling.’

Hi-tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist Dr Hermann Hauser will officially open both incubators at E-Space North on 12 October.