Couple move firm back to city as new centre opens (From Cotswold Journal)

Couple move firm back to city as new centre opens

4:44pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Business By Alicia Kelly, @aliciakellyWN #worcsnews

A FAMILY have moved their business back to Worcester after a new business park opened in the city.

Wayne Griffin, who owns Plastech Mouldings, is the first person to move his company into a newly opened 14-unit entrepreneurs’ centre off the Bromwich Road, St John’s.

Mr Griffin bought the business 15 years ago from a retired Worcester engineer and expanded the plastics injection moulding company business with the help of his mother, Sandra, and wife, Laurie.

He was previously based in Tewkesbury but moved to Venture Business Park because the 1,440 sq ft unit there was the ideal size. Mr Griffin said the park was close to his St John’s home and looked professional.

He said: “We recently had an open afternoon for our customers to come and see our new premises, and they were all astounded by how professional the business park looks. For small businesses like ours competing with some much bigger players, how we present ourselves is important, so fairplay to Charlie Rodway, of Lansdowne Rodway Estates and Ian Miles, group estates and development manager – they really have gone the extra mile to make it look like a professional industrial estate.

“Until now we had no choice but to keep our premises in Tewkesbury, but the size of the new units at Venture Business Park is perfect for us – not too large, not too small, ideal for a business like ours.”

Venture Business Park is the latest business park to be developed by Lansdowne Rodway, and joins Blackpole East in north Worcester, and Keytec 7 Business Park in Pershore, which is a joint project with Crown House Developments.

It houses the New Venture Enterprise Centre with its 14 entrepreneurial starter units, the Stock N Lock Self Storage centre, due to open in September 2012, and the New Venture House office complex.

Charles Rodway, of Lansdowne Rodway Estates, said: “What you see today is the culmination of five years’ hard work – turning the tatty old Bromwich Road Industrial Estate, where no one new in business would imagine setting up, into the smart, prestigious little gem of a business park you see today.

“With the Venture Business Park we are creating a real business community with shared facilities, visions and ambitions.

“People like Wayne who move into our entrepreneurial starter units at the New Venture Enterprise Centre will get free access to our hi-tech communal conferencing boardroom in the New Venture House office complex, and preferential rates at our Stock N Lock (business and domestic) self storage centre next door.

“The self storage centre is designed to be the most advanced in the West Midlands and every detail from the striking, intricate colour scheme and hotel standard double lifts down to free Wi-Fi and welcoming reception/shop design has been carefully thought through.”