Entrepreneurship and Business Start-up Spaces

Changes to business start-up spaces have generally been as a result of feedback from the clients. Some examples as to the type of changes are:

University of Plymouth

• SETsquared Bristol - relocation of pre-incubation open-plan space to more 'alive' part of Woodland Road with a change in colour scheme. Also a mobile (wireless) conference phone has been installed. These changes have been made as a result of ad hoc feedback

• InfoLab21 - introduced new Italian purpose-built incubation pods in one of the larger rooms to provide more flexible office sizes and made some modifications to the office to suit particular needs of the businesses. Lancaster University says that it constantly evaluates how InfoLab21 residents are doing and whether there's any support that can be provided to them or signposted to them. As well as the InfoLab21 incubation space manager, who facilitates the moving process and sorts any practical day to day issues out for the residents, each resident has a business development contact who visits each business regularly to gain feedback, determine their needs and facilitate technology transfer

• SETsquared Surrey - There is now an Extranet for the Surrey Research Park that companies have asked for - it has proved valuable for getting messages, profiles etc across. There are some big companies represented in the Park including Microsoft so it provides a means to get involved with, and be updated on, activities

• The University of Plymouth has recently conducted an evaluation survey and as a result will be developing its business support offering even further and is looking into updating its client payment systems

• The University of the West of England has provided additional storage, and dividers between the desks in the open plan areas in response to the needs of the client base and evaluation as to how the space is used

• Developments at Manchester Metropolitan University's Innospace have been made since it was opened. For instance a permanent large meeting space with solid walls has been built within the space - this had been partitioned off previously but it was recognised that there was a need for a more permanent and private space. Innospace initially focused on providing tenant businesses with a structured mentoring programme but feedback suggested that this method did not suit the businesses and so they now focus more on creating a supportive environment and a community of businesses that works together. Informal mentoring sessions are provided with tenants liaising with the Innospace Management team on specific needs