OFFICIAL OPENING FOR BG FUTURES BUSINESS CENTRE
BG Futures, the new business start-up centre at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, will be officially opened by Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Co-operative, next Wednesday (14th March).
The £1.8 million business centre has only been operating for a few months and already 11 of the 15 office units are let to start-up businesses and entrepreneurs.
Futures has also been shortlisted for an RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Regional Award in the Community Building category. RICS judges will visit the building on 27th March.
BG Futures differs from other incubation centres by emphasising BG’s values of equality and diversity, said Mark Bowen, Enterprise Development Manager at the university college.
“Our aim is to develop our ethos by valuing individuals no matter where they come from and give everyone an equal chance in life,” he said.
“To that end we welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people from disadvantaged backgrounds of all kinds.
“BG Futures aims to break down barriers and show people that they can be successful in business no matter who they are or where they come from.”
The official opening ceremony at 11.30am on Wednesday 14th March will be followed by a second ceremony by ceramic artist Pete Moss to unveil the unique feature wall in the business centre foyer.
Working with a group of art students from BG, Pete took 96 raw clay bricks donated by Ibstock Brick in Wakefield and hand-carved mediaeval symbols onto them before putting them together to create a spectacular feature wall.
The work, called Past into Futures, celebrates the link between the modern BG Futures building and the site on which it sits, which was once home to a mediaeval settlement. Each symbol replicates those found in typical mediaeval buildings such as churches, halls and more well-to-do homes.
“We’re grateful to Arts Council England for their financial support and to the Nostell Factory of Ibstock Brick Limited for the gift of the free bricks and the time and expert advice of their staff who helped bring the project to fruition,” said Mark Bowen.
Reporters and photographers are invited to attend the opening ceremony. If you would like to attend please call 01522 528540 or email jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
Notes to editors
- BG Futures is Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln’s brand new business and enterprise hub.
- The business centre provides virtual office facilities as well as 15 business incubator units ranging from 8m2 to 25m2, meeting rooms, conference facilities and technical and academic support.
- Originally opened in 2007 as The Sky Centre, BG Futures is the result of a £1.8 million extension and renovation project funded by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), Lincolnshire Enterprise, Lincolnshire County Council and Bishop Grosseteste University College.
- Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln was established in 1862 and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2012.
- It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln and awarding its own degrees at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level.
- With around 100,000 qualified members and over 50,000 students and trainees in some 140 countries, RICS provides the world's leading professional qualification in land, property, construction and the associated environmental issues.
For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07780 735071
[BG11futuresopening]
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry
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