Latest News

North Devon Enterprise Centre taking shape

The North Devon Enterprise Centre is starting to take shape as construction work on the site continues apace.

With good progress being made, the main building work remains on target to be completed by the end of this year.

The Enterprise Centre is being developed at Devon County Council’s Business Park development at Roundswell, near Barnstaple, to provide accommodation for dynamic, high growth, and start-up businesses.

The building has been designed to be environmentally sustainable and includes a series of measures to ensure the building achieves BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent status. Overall reductions of 25% have been achieved on carbon emissions through energy saving measures such as energy efficient lighting, use of natural daylight and enhanced thermal insulation materials.

Once construction has been completed, it is hoped that the environmental and carbon reduction ethos will be adopted by the innovative businesses that the Enterprise Centre will support from early next year.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: “It’s great to see this project really coming together and everyone can see the excellent progress being made. The Enterprise Centre is one of many projects that will be playing an important part in ensuring that our local economy emerges stronger from the coronavirus pandemic. We all know the next couple of years are going to be challenging but it’s Team Devon’s ambition for our local economy to be more inclusive and sustainable – and the Enterprise Centre fits perfectly in that ambition.”

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “With £2.15 million funding from our Growth Deal, I’m pleased to see this project progressing well as part of our portfolio of 69 schemes across the whole of the Heart of the South West that will generate growth, jobs and skills. As we come out of lockdown, new facilities for businesses such as the North Devon Enterprise Centre play an important role in the recovery of our region as we move towards a cleaner, greener economy.”

Councillor Frank Biederman, Devon County Councillor for Fremington Rural, said: “It’s fantastic to see this project moving forward and the building now taking shape, this clearly is going to be such an important asset to support business start-ups here in Northern Devon. It looks like young people are going to find it toughest to get on the job market post Covid, so giving them the opportunity to be entrepreneurs and having the wrap around support is going to be a fantastic opportunity for those that are lucky enough to get a space. Its timing could not be better. I wish to thank all our officers involved in the bidding, planning and design of this project.”

The centre has been designed to accommodate small and medium size businesses in individual offices, with common areas and an overall environment that will encourage collaboration, innovation and an enjoyable workspace.

The scheme has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Devon County Council.

Contractor ISG is developing the site on behalf of Devon County Council.

For more information about the Enterprise Centre or to register your interest, please email chris.bouchard@nps.co.uk

Back to latest news >
Archives
OUR BOARD

Comprised of business leaders from across our key sectors, the LEP Board oversees the programme of infrastructure, business support and skills projects being delivered by 2025.

Find out more about our board >

LEP board meetings & documents >

Sign up to Newsletter >

Newsletter Sign-up






    Complete the short form and we will add you to our mailing list.

    We use MailChimp as our marketing automation platform. By clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be transferred to MailChimp in the USA for processing in accordance with their Privacy Policy and Terms.

    Business engagement is really important to us. We handle and process all personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations. For further information please refer to our Privacy Policy.

    Send us a message


      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.