Office may become business centre

Nov 11 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A FORMER property shop in Perth’s George Street looks set to be converted to a Business Gateway operation to offer help and advice to fledgling local enterprises.

Members of the council’s Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee will be told tomorrow that, if agreed, it would replace the office in Perth’s Glover Street, which closed last September.

In a report to the meeting, Jim Irons, executive director (environment), states: “The loss of a Business Gateway physical presence in Perth and Kinross has undoubtedly had an impact on the support and advice offered to local start-up businesses.

“Through the proposals set out in this report, clearly this is recognised by Enterprise North East Trust (ENET) and steps are being taken to redress this balance.”

Changes were made to the delivery of the Business Gateway contract following a national tendering exercise which was won for the Tayside area by ENET, who also operate the contract in the Grampian area.

Services throughout the first year of the contract have been delivered from a single office in Dundee following the closure of the Glover Street premises.

Now, however, the trust have identified the former Thornton’s Property Shop at 47 George Street as a potential office base for their operations in Perth and Kinross.

Estimated costs of fitting it out are in the region of £30,000-£35,000, and running costs of around £54,000.

“Potentially this point of delivery would enhance joint working between ENET advisers and Perth and Kinross Council staff and offer a convenient base to meet clients and businesses co-sharing with Economic Development staff on a ‘hot-desk’ basis,” adds Mr Irons.

“The costs of the refit are one-off expenses and it is proposed Perth and Kinross Council make a contribution of £15,000, which would be funded from the existing Economic Development Budget.”

In the period from April-September this year, ENET have worked in Perth and Kinross with 69 start-up businesses and 15 businesses likely to VAT registration within their first year of trading.