Two drop-in events held at the Lace Mill in Chard have helped South Somerset District Council plan towards creating a Chard Business Centre.
The events were held on Friday 2 December and Saturday 3 December and were aimed at those who were thinking about starting a business, needed support and guidance or were looking for somewhere to expand into for special projects.
The drop-in events showcased the space available, the views and also gave businesses the opportunity to see what the hub could be like. A number of people attended and some very valuable feedback was obtained, with all being impressed with the space and the panoramic views. Some described the idea of a Chard Business Centre at the Lace Mill as “inspiring” and “uplifting”.
Councillor Carol Goodall, Chairman for the project said, “We were very pleased with the feedback that we received for those that attended the events. We can now take that information back to the project group and decide on the next steps of creating a Chard Business Centre at the Lace Mill.”
Councillor Jo Roundell Greene, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development at South Somerset District Council added, “The Business Centre in Chard will potentially support a variety of businesses in the local area and it was important that we gained feedback so we can ensure we deliver the right layout and content to support the users. It was a pleasure to meet some of the potential users and as the project moves forward, there will be more opportunities to gain information about how the space will look and how it will support local businesses.”
The business hub intends to provide a number of workspaces with a meeting room and a kitchen/breakout area, with up to 1gigabit of business Broadband connectivity. Business support, networking and informative events are envisaged to help people start up and develop their businesses in Chard.