South West Regional Development Agency

Area Team: West of England

The West of England area is renowned for enterprise and innovation and an incubation centre in Bath supported by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) is helping new young businesses to flourish. 
 
The Carpenter House Incubator was set up by the University of Bath in 2002 with £360,000 funding from the South West RDA.  
 
The renovation of the building in Broad Quay has provided a range of flexible, high quality professional serviced workspaces to act as an incubator for small businesses in the region.  
 
The incubator provides affordable office space with broadband facilities, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and facilities such as meeting rooms and presentation equipment. The incubator focuses on business start ups in the multi-media, creative industries sector and university spin-outs. 
 
So far, the facilities have stimulated 22 high growth start-up businesses and created 71 new jobs (7 businesses and 14 jobs in 2005/6). It is predicted that by next year another five new businesses will be 'incubated'. 
 
Ann O'Driscoll from the South West RDA said: "The Centre managed to achieve 100% occupancy in its second year which was ahead of target. Carpenter House provides an ideal climate for growth due to its proximity to expertise and integrated business support."