| Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
May I just take this opportunity to thank Jim Mcmanus, the Mayor, Bill Flanagan and Chesterfield Borough Council for inviting me to visit Chesterfield and to see the latest example of the excellent work the Council is undertaking with local partners in regenerating Chesterfield.
I am delighted to be here today to officially open this impressive facility. It is a shining example of how to encourage business to innovate with its facilities which are ideal for the varying needs of new and small businesses in the area. I am pleased to say that after only a short period of being open for business it is almost fully occupied.
I am looking forward to my tour of the building later and having the opportunity to find out how the largest Geothermal Heating/ Cooling system in the UK works and also to meet some of the companies based here.
In recent years Chesterfield has flourished as one of the main centres in the region for hi-tech companies to locate themselves.
We only have to look at the success of nearby Tapton Park and the Tapton Park Innovation Centre to see how Chesterfield has established itself as a centre for excellence.
The support that the council and partners such as Government Office, EMDA, Business Link and the Chamber of Commerce are providing the business community located in the region highlights the importance of industry for future success.
I congratulate you also on providing here in Chesterfield an environment which nurtures young start-up and innovative companies, particularly in the fields of engineering, IT, electronics and associated consultancy.
The facilities that are being provided at centres such as Dunston are vital in their contribution to small business success and also offer the added flexibility in that accommodation can be found to cater to the needs of growing, successful businesses.
I have, as many of you here today may be aware, just visited Imagesound Ltd which has recently relocated here to Dunston Technology Park.
This is just one example of how a successful local small business has utilised the facilities here in Chesterfield during its expansion, moving from premises at Tapton Innovation Centre to a new bespoke building here at Dunston.
It is with great pleasure that I now declare Dunston Innovation Centre open and wish all its current and future occupants success for the future.
|
