THE OPENING of a £195,000 business venue in the heart of the city centre has been welcomed by Worcester’s MP Robin Walker.
The project provides local entrepreneurs with access to flexible and creative co-working space and help encourage new start-up businesses to flourish right in the centre of Worcester.
Mr Walker, who recently visited the Kiln to attend the launch, is pleased that Worcestershire’s start-ups, freelancers and small businesses can now access a long-anticipated co-working space at the Old Police station on Copenhagen Street.
The Kiln is the brainchild of Greg Smith and Hamish Gill, co-owners of the visual identity agency F8 Creates, and is the first of its kind in Worcester. It has been backed by Worcester City Council, which has invested £400,000 in the scheme and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership which has provided £195,000 towards refurbishment via the Government’s Local Growth Fund.
“Over the last 10 years I have had the honour of representing Worcester in the House of Commons, but the biggest highlights of my career are Worcester based. As a child I have fond memories of wandering up the High Street with my family and it is fantastic to see Worcester flourishing despite national decline,” Mr Walker said.
“There are many exciting ongoing developments within the city, earlier this year we received great news of a £3million boost into renovating and repurposing eight railway arches for creative and dynamic business space and a fresh bid for a share of the £1billion High Street Fund.”
“I commend Greg and Hamish on all their efforts to get this idea off the ground and I was pleased that the Government, City Council and LEP could contribute in funding.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Worcester BID, Phoebe Dawson said: “It has been a pleasure to welcome The Kiln and its members to Worcester. Not only has the project reinvigorated a magnificent building which had been lying empty, but the further investment has also brought a new audience and visitors to our city centre.
