Posted on Tuesday 28th November 2023
Ellie Brogan
Home workers who want to separate business from downtime or need a professional setting for meetings can take advantage of modern facilities at a town centre enterprise hub.
Shire Hall Business Centre in Stafford opened in summer 2022 and hosts businesses from a range of sectors in its flexible tenancy office units. It is located to the rear of the historic building in the area which once housed the town’s library.
The centre also accommodates hot desk facilities for people who run their own business or work for a larger company where home working for them is common practise. Meeting rooms are also available, giving people a professional setting and in a convenient central location.
People running their own company from home can hire a post office box at Shire Hall, so they don’t need to use their home address for business. And ahead of national Small Business Saturday, the county council is urging people to find out more.
Anyone wanting further information should email Samantha Neal, centre administrator.
Ellie Brogan uses the hot desks each weekday working for hotel and events management business Ibiza Rocks. Stafford resident Ellie manages bookings, event artists and liaises with partner agencies such as airlines for the San Antonio venue.
Shire Hall Business Centre just a ten-minute walk from home and in a perfect central location – most other options are out of town,” she said.
Working from Shire Hall gives Ellie a complete office setting with all the facilities and plenty of space – something she’d be lacking if trying to manage at home.
Coming into the centre means I can separate work from home. The space is fantastic and there are meeting rooms and the kitchen facilities too. What is great is the opportunity to meet people from different businesses. There’s a social aspect but also ideas sharing and networking – it’s a real community.
The team here are brilliant – you couldn’t ask for any more and they’re on hand for to help with issues you may have.”
Like the county council’s other enterprise centres, the Shire Hall offers reception facilities, meeting areas, networking opportunities and business advice and support. The centre opened after an extensive £2million fit out, blending the latest office facilities with heritage building features.
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said:
The Shire Hall Business Centre has been a huge success for us and for Stafford – offering top quality facilities to small businesses in a professional setting.
Its hot desk and meeting room hire options reflect modern working for people owning their own businesses or who work from home on a regular basis. It means they can work in a different space which has all the town centre amenities and importantly a social aspect to the working day with plenty of networking opportunities. And the post box rental can complete the office set-up.
Most of the office units have been snapped up, but there are a couple remaining for any businesses looking for a fixed space but flexible arrangement.
It’s fantastic to have a thriving business hub in the heart of Stafford. It’s playing an important part in the wider regeneration of the town at a time when many other exciting developments are taking place.”
The Shire Hall Business Centre complements county council plans to repurpose and redevelop town centre land occupied by vacant buildings – including the former magistrates court and county council’s own Wedgwood Building – off Eastgate Street. Stafford Borough Council has had a £20million government investment in its station gateway project confirmed, regenerating the wider area around the railway station. It is also implementing its Future High Streets programme.