Technology Boost for Boston Businesses

News release

18th October 2013

Businesses and students will soon be able to access state-of-the-art digital equipment when a technology hub launches in Boston this month.

Based at the newly-opened £1.6 million Enterprise Zone at Boston College, the hub will offer free use of a desktop 3D printer, a hand-held colour 3D scanner and a high-precision laser cutter and engraver. The hub will give people the chance to learn more about emerging technologies, test out equipment before making a purchase, access workshops and network.

It is being launched by Lincolnshire County Council’s onlincolnshire project during the college’s Technology Showcase event, taking place at the Enterprise Zone between 10am and 3pm on 30th October. The event will feature a combination of displays, machinery and short seminars for visitors and students to see how technology and engineering underpins the success of business across a range of sectors.

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economic Development at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The hub is a fantastic resource for Boston, offering a great opportunity for young and talented entrepreneurs to link up with a range of businesses. It will give local employers the chance to get ‘hands on’ with some of the very latest technology, helping them to develop and grow their business.”

The hub is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

People attending the event will be able to get an up-close look at a range of machinery and see video demonstrations, whilst the short seminars will be a chance for local businesses to tell their story directly to students and visitors. Exhibitors at the Technology Showcase will include BAE Systems, Burdens, Turners Distribution, GB Security Group, Rolec Services, Sports Bike Shop and QV Foods.

Paul Collins, Director of Business Development at Boston College, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the latest onlincolnshire Technology Hub. It is a major development for local employers and learners and we hope that it will provide the spark to ignite technology-driven economic growth in Boston and the surrounding area.

“Visitors to the Technology Showcase should be prepared to be surprised, in a good way, by what goes on around Boston and Spalding. More importantly, college students will see what it takes to forge some brilliant careers with forward-thinking companies.”

Ends

Members of the media are invited to attend the launch event throughout the day. Volunteers who run the hub and staff from Boston College will be available for interviews.

Notes to Editors:

About onlincolnshire

• onlincolnshire is a Lincolnshire County Council initiative to help prepare people for superfast broadband when it arrives.
• The Technology Hubs are being launched to demonstrate the benefits digital technology can offer.
• The onlincolnshire project has successfully launched one hub in Mablethorpe already and plans to open a further two hubs before the end of the year, and one in the New Year.
• All of the equipment available through the hubs can be borrowed and used for free, with just a small charge to cover insurance costs and materials used.
• onlincolnshire is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013
• Some Internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 7.6 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf

• The contract with BT concentrates on an intervention area of over 150,000 premises where existing or planned commercial roll outs would not deliver superfast speeds. This will mean that at least 94% of all premises should have access to fibre broadband by April 2016.

About Boston College

• Boston College runs full-time, day release and work-based courses from Level 1 to 3 in NVQ Professional Cookery and VRQ Professional Food and Beverage Service.
• All students study for both front and back of house, from planning events and supervising busy restaurants to preparing and cooking fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.
• The students cater for many high-profile events around the county each year, including the Boston Mayor’s Civic Dinner, Boston Business Awards and Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Dinner.
• The Enterprise Zone is a £1.6 million entrepreneurial incubator providing support to students wishing to run their own business, providing them with skills workshops and opportunities to network with local businesses.  
• To find out more about the Enterprise Zone, please contact Karen Pearson on 01205 365701 or email enterprise@boston.ac.uk. Karen is the Enterprise Development Manager at Boston College.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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