A Trailblazing new enterprise centre opened its doors to businesses for the first time at a unique preview event in Berwick on Tuesday 15th April.

Many of the 50 businesses from Northumberland and the Scottish Borders who have already expressed an interest in the £3.75m Berwick WorkSpace attended the event and became the first visitors to view the centre in the build up to its official launch later this month.

New and existing businesses toured the state-of-the-art centre's 35 offices and learned more about the building's on-site facilities and support services.

These include meeting and conferencing areas, an open plan social space to promote networking among occupants and business support from the centre's management team, The Tyneside Economic Development Company Ltd (TEDCO).

The evening marked the milestone when prices were set and an opening date confirmed.

Berwick WorkSpace centre manager Andrew Martin said: "We aim to provide an environment where enterprise and people can not only be nurtured but inspired to grow.

"The funding partners of this project have provided us with an outstanding facility in which to deliver this and it's now up to myself and my team to deliver the culture and support that will facilitate in allowing these businesses to flourish.

"Based upon the levels of interest shown and the attendance at the event we have gone a long way to meeting an outstanding need in enterprise growth in this area. All of the feedback we have received has been very positive and proves to us we are at the start of something special for enterprise in north Northumberland and the Eastern Borders."

The building is set within the historic Boarding School Yard, behind Marygate. Its funders, which include Berwick Borough Council, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Strategic Partnership, One NorthEast and the European Regional Development Fund say the building will be of key importance to enterprise and new business growth and to the town and Borough's regeneration.

John Hamilton, project director and economic development officer with Northumberland County Council, said: "Berwick WorkSpace is a flagship for businesses, the town centre and the community. It provides facilities equal to any.

"Through the centre we aim to provide a focus for business development and enterprise for Berwick and the Eastern Borders. We hope that business will become established and grow with the benefit of the support available through WorkSpace."

Doug Scott, chief executive of TEDCO, an organisation with over 20 years experience in supporting businesses and enterprise and managing business centres, said: "We are delighted to be managing the new Berwick WorkSspace. The building will be a great resource for Berwick, especially for new businesses in the town and surrounding area and we are committed to providing excellent service to match the exciting new building."

Businesses wanting to find out more about Berwick WorkSpace should contact Andrew Martin on (01289) 301120 or email amartin@tedco.org

Photograph: Left to Right: Doug Scott -TEDCO, John Hamilton - Northumberland County Council and Andrew Martin - TEDCO