A new Smarter Working Centre is now open in Aldershot offering entrepreneurs, business start-ups, home-based businesses and commuters low-cost accommodation and the chance to work and meet locally and avoid the stress and cost of the peak-time journey to work.

Hampshire County Council provided match funding of £7,000 to help establish the Aldershot Smarter Working Centre, which has now officially opened.

The Aldershot Smarter Working Centre is operated by Enterprise First (Southern) Limited which provides a range of advisory and business services to, mostly, SME organisations in the area. The Centre is located on Wellington Street and includes four internet connected work-spaces and access to a ground floor meeting room. In addition a local ‘job search’ club has been set up at the Centre to help recently redundant executives.

Accommodation and usage costs are kept low at Smarter Working Centres by offering users the option of 'pay as you use' or discounted prepaid allocated work or meeting-space options. Depending upon the membership package chosen, work-space can work out at as little as £3 per hour or £10 per day. This can reduce even further if organisations are willing to pre-book longer periods.

Smarter Working Centre members also benefit from access to support, training and advice from expert organisations such as Job Centre Plus, Enterprise First, and Business Link skills and business advisers.

Businesses interested in using a smarter working centre can find out more at the website http://www.smarterworkingcentreshiow.org.uk . The site provides an easy introduction for those new to the concept of Smarter Working Centres and offers real-time space availability checking, on-line booking and secure on-line payment.

Councillor Jonathan Glen, Hampshire County Council Member said: “I am particularly pleased to see that the Aldershot Smarter Working Centre will focus on the needs of recently redundant professionals and help budding entrepreneurs get their business ambitions on track. Smarter Working Centres are a great way for entrepreneurs to meet and exchange ideas and for businesses generally to work collaboratively. The pay as you use more flexible approach to work and meeting space is ideal for those who need occasional access and is a much better alternative to working from home or taking a long term rental.

“The new Centre in Aldershot is ideally located and should be a great resource for local residents who want to avoid the traffic or train journey they normally face as part of their daily commute.”

The Smarter Working Centre in Aldershot is the latest in the network with centres now open in Basingstoke, Fareham, Fordingbridge, Gosport and Havant with others to follow shortly in Lyndhurst and Portsmouth.

For the latest availability and to reserve your space, please visit:

 

 

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