York St John opens new start-up centre to offer free help for businesses to innovate and grow

Partnership with York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub will support local independent enterprise.

York St John University is delighted to announce the opening of dedicated city centre start-up facilities to support business in York. The Enterprise Centre offers free, supportive, expert help for new businesses. The space provides professional corporate accommodation which businesses can take advantage of rent free for their first 6 months.

Now open on York St John University’s main Lord Mayor’s Walk campus, the Centre offers businesses direct on-site access to our academic expertise. This includes coaching and mentoring workshops from York Business School as well as support with digital marketing, growth planning, finance skills and bid writing.

Local entrepreneurs can access a package of free expert help, uniquely connected to the business support landscape via the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub. It is being managed by a member of the Hub team solely dedicated to the Centre and based on site. Working in full partnership with the Growth Hub in this way provides instant access to latest governmental advice and support. 

As the only university in Yorkshire with a campus in London, there will also be the opportunity to access and use business space in York St John’s brand-new campus facility near Canary Wharf. Entrepreneurs can make use of the space to meet with clients and hold meetings when visiting the capital.  

Director of Business Development & Knowledge Exchange at York St John University, Marc Fleetham said: “We’re delighted to launch the Enterprise Centre here on campus, offering an accessible, local platform for ambitious minds to realise their goals.

“Our doors are open to provide ongoing CPD & training, to grow local talent and keep it here in York. This aligns with the city’s Skills Strategy of addressing local skills challenges and raising productivity for long term growth.

“The partnership with the Growth Hub will make sure that businesses are plugged in to what local and national support is available to them, and how to make best use of what’s out there.”

York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub Manager Andrew Raby said: “By its very geography, York and North Yorkshire is home to a diverse range of businesses. Regardless of size or sector, we are here to provide free and independent business support. We are government-funded but locally based, which means that we can provide tailored support based around the needs of our unique region.

“Working so closely with York St John will bring together fresh academic insights and expert guidance from people who have been there and done it, in a professional environment with a community of peers who can support each other through the challenges of establishing a new business.”

Enterprise Centre Manager Emma Rollason-Taylor said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming York’s entrepreneurs through the doors and helping them to develop their ideas and fledgling businesses. With academic expertise on tap plus the Growth Hub’s connections to financial support, people that we work with really are getting the best of both worlds. It’s exciting to see what will grow from these firm foundations.”

The Enterprise Centre opens on Wednesday 4 May in the Cordukes building on the Lord Mayor’s Walk Campus. It will open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm with dedicated in-house staff. It features a shared bookable space for up to 20 people and virtual tenants can use it as a city centre address.

If you’re interested in accessing support from the Centre for your business, please contact business@yorksj.ac.uk

Read more about the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub here: https://www.ynygrowthhub.com/