A hub which helps small businesses in the City of London act as ‘engines of growth’ is embarking on a new era as it moves to new premises.
The Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre, based in the City of London Corporation’s Guildhall headquarters, will temporarily close its doors on Friday, 24 February.
The centre, which offers advice, support and a flexible workspace for SMEs, will move from its current location in Aldermanbury to a site on the east of the Guildhall complex, in Basinghall Street.
It will swap premises with The City Centre, run by NLA as an exhibition and events space promoting the Square Mile as a place to do business and home to a popular scale model of the City of London.
Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation Chris Hayward said:
“During the pandemic, SBREC transformed from its previous incarnation as a business library to a modern, flexible, collaborative workspace, with most of its research and data facilities offered online.
“This move marks a new era for the centre and will provide a space more suited to its new role, while continuing to offer a really valuable resource to help small businesses.
“SMEs are engines of growth, accounting for 98% of Square Mile businesses, and this move will help us to continue to provide a first rate service to help them to set up, grow and power our post-pandemic economic recovery.”
SBREC, which has around 2,500 members, plans to open in its new home in April. The new space will allow more events, networking and exhibitions to be held, details of which will be announced later in the year.
The NLA will move into the former SBREC base, providing more space for events, exhibitions and models – including one of central London – under the new name of The London Centre.
More information is at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/sbrec or www.nla.london/visit-us
Jenny has been reporting on small business issues since 2001 where she held a number of freelance positions across the leading SME publications in the UK. Specialist subjects included SME financing and tax.