Hub that can put spring in step of start-ups

Six businesses have already taken space at Springboard, York Science Park’s pre-incubation space, which has space for up to 20 firms to use office and laboratory facilities as they seek to grow.

The hub has been designed to provide “breathing space” for new entrepreneurs who will benefit from managed facilities and help find advice and mentorship, while avoiding the loneliness sometimes experienced by people running their business from home.

Staff at York Science Park can refer start-ups to organisations with whom they have informal links, such as Partners in Training, a York staff development firm, York Professionals, a professional services membership organisation and Business Link, which will soon be scrapped as part of George Osborne’s austerity measures.

Tracey Smith, managing director of York Science Park, said there was a chance for start-ups to prosper despite the spending cuts and the threat of a double-dip recession.

“At a time when Business Link is not as prevalent, companies will still be able to get support.

“It is a difficult time but it promises a lot of opportunities as well.

“It is a challenging environment, people are looking at doing things in different ways.

“We are not going to be proscriptive.”

Firms using Springboard can stay for up to 18 months and are likely to come from Yorkshire or be an international company looking to establish a satellite office in this region, Ms Smith added.

The first tranche of companies to sign up include The Big Bang Partnership, an innovation and enterprise consultancy and Insighlytics, a software developer which specialises in social media.

Springboard is based in the Ron Cooke Hub – named after the professor and former York vice-chancellor – which was established last month in partnership with Science City York, the public sector-funded body that supports hi-tech businesses.

Ms Smith, who previously worked in facilities and marketing, said: “We’ve had a huge amount of interest from start-ups and entrepreneurs with great business ideas who want to use our dynamic space to transform their ideas into commercially viable reality. I’m delighted that the first six businesses in the space are already benefiting from the supportive and collaborative environment that Springboard offers.

“Its close proximity to world-class research and academics at the University of York is a major benefit.”

As well as The Big Bang Partnership and Insighlytics, the other firms based at the park are UK Social Data Services, a first website which brings together online and social media information for MPs; Ian Walker & Co Chartered Accountants, which provides business advice and support to SMEs; Inclusive Innovations, which develops and commercialises technology ranging from niche medical devices to mass consumer sporting accessories and ECOmmunity Together CIC, a social enterprise which specialises in environmental solutions and brokerage.

Several other social enterprises have expressed an interest in taking space at the centre, Ms Smith added.

Science City York and the University of York’s Research Innovation Office also have dedicated space within Springboard.

Nicola Spence, chief executive of Science City York, said: “It’s fantastic to have direct access to the new businesses in Springboard and we’re really looking forward to giving them our support.”

The Ron Cooke Hub was developed with investment from the university and money awarded to Science City York from the European Regional Development Fund in this region.