New Business Centre – Ergo – Nears Completion With Key Handover

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been handed the keys to its new business centre at Bridgehead Business Park, in Hessle, with contractor – PDR Construction – beginning its final phase of works.

The £3.9 million development, known as ergo, is aimed at the growing renewable energy and environmental technology sectors and will provide a connected environment offering flexible office space, conference facilities, an on-site café and parking.

The business centre has been under construction since last summer and is being developed by the council in partnership with the University of Hull. It is anticipated to open its doors in April.

Once the internal fit out is complete, the service offer from the centre will be delivered via an exciting new collaboration between the council, private sector and the University of Hull – adding prestige to the project and providing the business community with information and events at an easily accessible location at the cross roads of the Humber.

Amanda Hoggart, business centre manager, said:

“Receiving the keys for ergo is an exciting step in this project’s development and means we are fast approaching an official opening, scheduled for June as part of activities for Humber Business Week.

“Interest in the business centre is growing and we have now secured ‘Moes Kitchen’ to operate the on-site café, which is an exciting new venture by Hull entrepreneur Dan Robinson who has previously established Butler Whites, Larkins, Kitchenette No. 6, Paco’s and Milos.

“This development is a key part of the council’s economic vision for the area and will help grow businesses in emerging sectors like renewable energy and environmental technology – strengthening the Humber’s reputation as the UK’s Energy Estuary.”

Bill Walker, director of Strategic Relationships at the University of Hull, said:

“The University is delighted to be part of this significant development. Attracting to the Humber innovative businesses engaged in the low-carbon and renewable energy sectors is a major driver for the region’s future economy.

“Ergo will link brilliantly to other University initiatives in this space enabling a productive partnership that delivers a quality USP for the Humber.”

Work on the new development has been another successful project for the contractor, PDR Construction, who are based in Hessle and have worked on other parts of Bridgehead business park, which is owned and developed by Wykeland.

Nigel Weatherall, commercial director, said:

“Working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Wykeland and the scheme consultants was a pleasure. The clear, decisive and prompt decision making made the scheme easy to build. Having completed several schemes on the business park the working relationship with Wykeland is going from strength-to-strength.”

As well as capital investment from the council of £1.9 million, funding for the project has been secured from the Local Growth Fund, with £1 million allocated from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, around £710,000 from the Green Port Growth Fund Programme, supported by the Regional Growth Fund, and a financial contribution from the University of Hull.