Start-up units make very good business sense

Office and commercial units rented out by the district council to tenants in Sleaford have until recently been at 100 per cent occupancy rate.

Their popularity has led the authority to acquire more units in Navigation Yard to rent out, adding to the portfolio of office space in Station Business Centre in Station Road and the Reedspire industrial units on Sleaford Enterprise Park.

The policy of nurturing small businesses has born fruit as two firms have now flown the nest to larger premises, freeing up spaces for more new starters on flexible terms.

Leader of the Council, Marion Brighton, said: “It is reassuring to see that the units continue to fulfill their purpose and our motivation in providing them.

“They exist in order to support and encourage entrepreneurial endeavour and to have a couple of units currently vacant, after a long period of consistent 100 per cent occupancy, opens up a rare opportunity for enterprises to grow and develop in a supported environment.”

Marie Gutteridge of NKDC’s commercial property agent, Hodgson Elkington, commented: “We welcome enquiries from new start-up and expanding businesses. The flexibility of terms and competitive rents are ideal for anyone looking to move out of their front room/bedroom or take the next step to move their business forward.”

There is possible interest in three of the craft units at Navigation Yard, leaving only one 330 sq.ft unit available.

There are now three units available at the Station Business Centre in Station Road. Witham Archaeology Services had spent three years there, graduating from a home-based business and now expanding into larger office space in Ruskington.

Partner Dale Trimble said: “It was ideal in terms of size and location for that period. We are now a limited company after I joined my brother Russell and we have someone based in Norfolk too.”

Husband and wife team Nitin Noble and Divya Rajan spent five years at the Station Business Centre, attracted by the ideal transport links for clients and salespeople for their two businesses - Bob Mills UK, supplies dust sheets direct from a factory in India to major national retailers such as Wickes, B&Q and Jewson, as well as direct to employers such as British Gas. Their other firm, Coralie Flooring, supplies rugs and carpets.

Divya said the business centre is close to the Post Office and the railway station, making it easy for clients to reach them, with good parking too. She explained: “We are moving to bigger premises on Handley Street. We have six sales people and want to have meetings as well as being able to display our samples to clients in a showroom.”