EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Work starts on Hethel extension

18 February 2010

The minds and money behind Hethel Engineering Centre’s major extension project were on site this week to see construction work get under way.

Richard Ellis, chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Cllr Ann Steward of Norfolk County Council and John Fuller, Leader of South Norfolk District Council were joined by local MP Richard Bacon to see excavation work start for the £2.4 million new build extension.

The project will strengthen HEC’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for low carbon advanced manufacturing, providing workspace and support facilities for a further 11 ambitious start-up companies and enhancing HEC’s flourishing Skills Centre to help over 3,000 people gain valuable skills in this sector over the next five years.

HEC has also been awarded a further £240,000 through EEDA’s Capital Equipment Competition, allowing them to purchase and provide a communal Direct Digital Manufacturing (DDM) facility. The new facility is expected to serve over 40 businesses a year, giving them loan access to high-quality machinery without having to tie up their early-stage capital.

Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA, said:

“Advanced manufacturing has been identified as a pivotal sector in driving UK plc out of recession and back to prosperity, and Hethel Engineering Centre has played a major role in establishing the East of England’s growing strengths in this sector.

“With a pipeline of prospective new tenants and a track record of supporting 906 businesses, helping to create 105 new high-skill, high-value jobs and 18 new businesses, the extension of HEC is another important step in supporting innovative businesses in the East of England – the UK’s ‘ideas region’.”
  
Norfolk County Council set up HEC in 2006, with support from EEDA and South Norfolk Council, and is providing almost £1 million funding towards the extension.

Cllr Ann Steward of Norfolk County Council said: “Since we opened it four years ago, Hethel has really made a name for itself as one of the best centres in the country for supporting innovation in engineering and manufacturing. 

“The extension is being built in response to demand from within the sector, as there is currently a waiting list of start-up businesses who would like to be tenants at the centre.  That this development is happening as the country is just emerging from recession is a real boost to the county’s economy.  I believe all the funding partners have shown real foresight in creating these new facilities at the centre and bringing more highly-skilled jobs, people and businesses to Norfolk.”

South Norfolk Council Leader John Fuller said:

“Hethel is already a success story but our investment will make it better. It's a case study that shows how councils should invest in the depths of the recession so top-quality facilities are on-hand for business when the upturn comes. It's what people pay their taxes for.”

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