Pick Up The Phone To Smart Business Marlborough
A new service to support and advise existing businesses to grow and assist those looking to move into the region has been launched with the aim of making it easier to do business in Marlborough.
Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman says “Smart Business Marlborough” will be a boon to existing businesses wishing to expand and for investors who want to relocate to Marlborough. It will also enable the Council to more actively assist growth opportunities for the region.
“Smart Business Marlborough” will provide a business portal; a single point of contact which can provide a broad range of advice and information to the business community.
It has been set up to provide an easy access point to the large pool of information capital that is held by the Council; everything from regulatory and planning requirements and infrastructural details as well as local knowledge.
“We’re aware that it can be difficult to find out everything that you need to know about setting up in business here and a lot of time and money can be involved. We want to streamline the process for those with proposals for establishment or expansion.
We also want to ensure that people don’t waste a lot of energy because they’re not aware of what is, and isn’t, possible.”
The business portal will be able to supply accurate information about consents and regulations and it will be able to pass on information about existing local networks and contacts which may be of use.
“An important part of its function is to help promote Marlborough as a good place to do business,” said Mr Sowman.
At the same time, he said, it gave the Council the opportunity to advocate for the ‘smart and connected’ nature of business growth that it seeks under its new regional economic development policy. For example, some work to identify potential expansion opportunities is already underway at the Omaka Aviation Cluster, said Mr Sowman.
The new service will be accessed through the Council and will have a web page which is expected to be developed further in the months ahead, working in conjunction with the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce.
“It may be that, further down the track, a stand-alone unit evolves. But we’re taking small steps with the aim of providing a service that efficiently meets the needs as we see them now. We want to get this right so we’re starting on a modest scale,” said Mr Sowman.
The service will be managed by Neil Henry, the Council’s manager of Strategic Planning and Economic Development.
Before coming to Marlborough in 2009, Neil worked in economic development within local government in the East of England.
Over a 10-year period he worked for three councils as economic development officer/manager, assisting businesses to start and grow, and supporting the development of new infrastructure by
- helping local businesses relocate and grow by supporting them through Council regulatory processes
- supporting start-up businesses with advice and funding
- developing and managing business incubation centres
- ensuring businesses are able to access advice and guidance
- providing information to businesses: statistics, available property, economic data
- advising Council on requirements of businesses including land, property and regulations
- managing regeneration programmes to help businesses and people in low socio-economic areas.