5. Invest In Renfrewshire - Start-Up Street Update - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 29 August 2023
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 29 August 2023 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 29 August 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Invest in Renfrewshire: Start-Up Street Update 1. Summary 1.1 Further to previous reports regarding the development of Start-Up Street initiatives in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew this report provides a short update on progress across all three centres which are at 100% occupancy. 1.2 Start-Up Street is an economic development initiative which aims to help grow the local economy by supporting start-up businesses looking to make their first step into commercial premises. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Board members are asked to: (i) Note the overview and progress of the Start-Up Street developments which are all now at 100% occupancy and provide 26 supported incubation space and 7 hot desking spaces to local businesses. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Overview 3.1 Start-Up Street is an economic development initiative in Renfrewshire offering new and growing businesses low-cost, high-quality workspace and wraparound support to nurture and develop early-stage business.
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3.2 Initially approved by the Leadership Board in December 2018 the Start-Up Street proposal responded to the local need for low-cost business space with ongoing business advice and support. It aimed to encourage business growth and support the leap into commercial premises. 3.3 The incubation spaces are offered for a maximum of 2 years to small or early-stage businesses with a staged rental model which increases over the 2 years. At the end of the contract period the business will be paying the full rental value and can then be supported to move to an alternative commercial space in the Renfrewshire area. 3.4 The Start Up Street model was developed to address as many local requirements as possible and each project aims to provide a high degree of added value such as utilising long term vacant premises, supporting the local regeneration of the area, supporting under-represented groups and identifying where the greatest impacts can be made. 4. Start-Up Street Paisley 4.1 The first Start-Up Street initiative was developed at refurbished Council owned commercial units at 65-71 George Street, Paisley. Opening in October 2020 it provides 12 managed workspaces for early stage businesses. The centre was fully occupied within the first 3 months and due to the success, and the demand for places, plans for further centres are being developed. 4.2 Start-Up Street Paisley is delivered in partnership with Launch IT, Paisley, a social enterprise with a focus on youth entrepreneurship. Around half of the spaces are specifically for young entrepreneurs. 4.3 Since opening, Start-Up Street Paisley has provided support to 67 local businesses. Initial tenants have completed the 2-year support offer and have moved out. Launch It have published a short report (attached as Appendix 1) with an overview of the first few years and highlighting some of the businesses supported. 4.4 Demand for units and support remains high with a waiting list in place to ensure that new businesses can be supported as spaces within the centre become available. 4.5 All 12 business units are currently fully occupied with a range of businesses which include a local radio station, clothing designer, tailoring services, ecommerce retail, beauty therapy, upcycling, and diving tuition. 4.6 In addition to the managed workspaces, Start-Up Street Paisley offers a tailored programme of support to pre-start businesses which aims to help them progress their business idea to start-up stage creating a culture of entrepreneurship in Renfrewshire.
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5. Start-Up Street Johnstone 5.1 Start Up Street Johnstone is delivered in partnership with Active Communities, an award-winning health and wellbeing charity in Renfrewshire. 5.2 Based at Station 7, Quarry Street, Johnstone the managed workspaces opened in August 2022 providing 4 well-appointed business units in redeveloped garage areas at the centre. In line with the remit of Active Communities, Start- Up Street Johnstone also has a focus on health and wellbeing businesses. Business advice and support is provided by the Council’s Economic Development Service with Active Communities acting as landlord. 5.3 In the first year of operating two of the initial four tenants (a creative therapies training company and healthy eating catering company) grew at a quicker rate than anticipated and successfully progressed to renting their own commercial premises within Johnstone. 5.4 Two new businesses quickly replaced the two who moved on and the centre is currently fully occupied with four businesses offering services in podiatry, baby massage classes, a health and wellbeing clinic and physiotherapy. 5.5 All four businesses are developing well, and further reports and future evaluations will be brought back to Board in due course. 6. Start-Up Street Renfrew 6.1 The third centre to open was Start Up Street Renfrew, based at 7-13 Dunlop Crescent where long term vacant Council retail units were fully refurbished to provide 10 modern managed workspaces of different sizes to accommodate business needs and an additional range of hot-desking spaces. 6.2 Start-Up Street Renfrew is managed by Inspirent Ltd, a very successful and well- established not-for-profit business consultancy. Inspirent have successfully delivered a range of Business Gateway services in Renfrewshire, across many years, since they were established in 1987. 6.3 Start-Up Street Renfrew opened in February 2023 and, following two successful open days, the centre is now fully occupied by a range of businesses. The new centre hosts start-ups including product design and innovation, photographer, podcasting studio, audiologist, physiotherapy, counselling service, financial coaching, and children’s sports coaching. 6.4 In addition to the managed workspaces, the centre uniquely has 7 co-working and hot desking spaces which offer a flexible business space for very early stage businesses who are still planning their business proposals but with plans to progress to commercial premises in the future. 6.5 All businesses within the centre have access to an enterprise manager as well as a Council Business Start-Up advisor.
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6.6 Further reports will be brought to Board on Start Up Street Renfrew but in the meantime you can view the Start-Up Street premises at this link: https://youtu.be/OHOWV_EBQz0 7. The Start-Up Street Network 7.1 All three Start-Up St centres are now open and at 100% occupancy. They are at the early stages of working as a network, supporting each other in the development of the centres and the support to those interested in starting a business. 7.2 As well as providing incubation / workspaces each centre also acts as a business hub for start-up and wider business enquiries which can be referred to the Council’s Business Team. They each host the Council’s Business Gateway ‘meet the advisor’ sessions and monthly peer group meet up sessions for businesses to network and share best practice. 7.3 Several Start-Up Street businesses have employed people from the local area through the Invest in Renfrewshire employability service. In particular, parents returning to work through the parental employability support programme have accessed work experience and employment opportunities. 7.4 In support of the Council’s aim to strengthen the local supply chain and increase local spend, a number of the Start-Up Street businesses have been given additional support to register on Public Contracts Scotland to enable them to bid for public sector contracts (where this is appropriate). 7.5 A Women in Business networking group was successfully launched on the 11th of July 2023 with 22 attendees from across Renfrewshire. The group comprised of a mix of sole traders, limited companies, pre-start individuals and social enterprises. The inaugural speaker at the event was Lesley Compston of KLAS Care Community Interest Company, who was an alumni of the Renfrewshire Women Led Accelerator programme. 7.6 The Renfrewshire Women in Business networking events are scheduled monthly for the next 6 months and fall on a Tuesday evening 6pm-8:30pm. Future themes for events will include marketing on a budget, social media that works, building an online presence & websites, business planning for growth and Wellbeing. 8. Further Actions 8.1 Future reports will be brought to board to update on progress. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - No additional finance is sought for this proposal. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None.
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3. Community/Council Planning – None. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets- Start-Up Street currently operates from 43-45 & 65-71 George Street, Paisley and 7 -13 Dunlop Crescent, Renfrew. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights- None. 8. Health & Safety- None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk- None. 11. Privacy Impact- None. 12. Cosla Policy Position- Not Applicable. _________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers Economy and Regeneration Board: 22 September 2022; “Invest In Renfrewshire: Start-Up Street” Economy and Regeneration Board: 23 August 2022; “Invest In Renfrewshire: Start-Up Street Leadership Board:28 April 2021;“Start-Up Street” Leadership Board:5th December 2018; “Invest in Renfrewshire Proposal: Start- Up Street” ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Ruth Cooper, Economic Development Manager ruth.cooper@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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Appendix 1: Start-Up Street Paisley Update
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