EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Eco-hub helps disadvantaged young entrepreneurs

11 September 2009

Young disadvantaged entrepreneurs within Southend-on-Sea are set to get a helping hand in starting up an environmentally-friendly business with the launch of a brand new facility providing affordable workspace.

The dilapidated historic building will be transformed by Southend YMCA over the course of the next three years thanks to £307,244 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which will help create a multi-use eco-hub including work units and conference facilities. The ERDF is managed in the region by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

Commenting on how the idea was conceived, Syrie Cox, chief executive officer, Southend YMCA, explained: “We support around 500 marginalised young people and we wanted to provide the option of starting a business as a way of helping them progress towards independence and greater inclusivity.”

Syrie continued:  “The project would not have been possible without the financial contributions of European funding and other partners. We are extremely grateful to EEDA for their support throughout the whole process.”

With on-site support and access to mainstream business networks, the project will deliver five affordable and managed workspace units for young entrepreneurs to develop eco-efficient enterprises.

David Morrall, Director International, EEDA said:  “Southend-on-Sea has a high entrepreneurial culture but a higher than average failure rate among business start-ups and the eco-hub will provide the vital support needed to help fledgling businesses at a crucial time in their development.”

“ERDF is supporting a variety of innovative schemes to help businesses cut carbon emissions and inspirational projects like this are encouraging young people to take responsibility for these issues at the very beginning of their business life.”

The whole project is set to cost in the region of £768,000 and will enable 90 small and medium-sized businesses to adopt an active environmental policy. It will create 16 jobs including a new eco-hub manager.

The eco-efficient flagship building will be renovated using sustainable development principles to Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) standards of ‘very good’ and will also comply with Building for Life criteria – the national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods.

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