Ergo, a new £4 million business centre, officially opens its doors on Tuesday, 5 June as part of Humber Business Week.
The centre is situated at the heart of the Energy Estuary, in a prime location on the Bridghead business park, in Hessle.
Operated by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, in partnership with the University of Hull, ergo provides flexible and modern office space and conference facilities with on-site parking. It is set to quickly establish itself as the region’s premier office space for businesses in the renewables and environmental technology sectors.
The resident Greenport Business Support Team will focus on creating a collaborative working environment, building a business community who are seeking to gain opportunities within the renewables and environmental technology sectors.
Moe’s Kitchen café, based within ergo, offers a great cup of coffee and fresh and tasty homemade food. The café is open to the public Monday to Friday, 7.30am-3pm.
Tuesday’s VIP event will be attended by local dignitaries, representatives from the business community and industry leaders.
Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“It’s fitting that the official opening of ergo will take place during Humber Business Week, which showcases the wealth of talent, entrepreneurship, vision and future potential of the region.
“This development is a key part of the council’s economic aspirations for the area and will help grow businesses in those sectors that strengthen the Humber’s reputation as the UK’s Energy Estuary.”
Professor Susan Lea, vice-chancellor of the University of Hull, said:
“The university is delighted to be a partner in this fantastic building and we are pleased to have been actively engaged with East Riding of Yorkshire Council throughout its development.
“The Bridgehead location is superb and we believe the ergo partnership will provide further appeal for the businesses the Humber needs to support its long-term growth in the key areas of renewable energy and clean energy.
“Ergo will play a vital connecting role to the development of the Aura Innovation Centre, which we will shortly begin building in the same location. The combination of ergo and the Aura Innovation Centre will provide a focus for business to drive innovation through collaboration in the low-carbon energy sector.”
Partner organisation Team Humber Marine Alliance (THMA) has already moved into the centre.
Chief executive, Mark O’ Reilly, was full of praise and is looking forward to its official opening.
He said:
“Ergo is a fantastic facility and one we are now proud to call our home. It is ideally located to support our 200+ members and partners from around the Humber region who operate in the maritime and offshore renewable energy industry.
“The official opening will not only celebrate the completion of this project, but also highlight the important role that the renewable energy and environmental technology sectors are playing in the local economy and the positive impact they are making to the UK in terms of both energy production and in protecting the environment.”
The ergo project was developed by the council in conjunction with the Wykeland Group and construction of the facility was undertaken by Hessle-based contractor PDR Construction.
Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Wykeland Group, said:
“The ergo centre is the latest prestigious facility at Bridgehead and its opening marks another key landmark in the rapid growth of the business park.
“With outstanding credentials in terms of sustainability and respect for the natural environment, Bridgehead is the perfect location for a centre focused on companies in the renewables and environmental technology sectors.”
As well as £2m capital investment from the council, £1m was secured from the Government’s Local Growth Fund via the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), around £710,000 from the Green Port Growth Programme, supported by the Regional Growth Fund, and an equity investment from the University of Hull.
Lord Haskins, chairman of the Humber LEP, said: “The partnership support for this project reflects the significance of the energy and renewables sectors to the Humber.
“The location of the ergo centre – so close to the estuary – provides excellent access for both banks of the Humber, which makes for easy access and transport for businesses across the region.
“With projects like ergo we are seeing important sectors in our region grow. This can only impact positively on our proposition to Government as we work to produce our local industrial strategy, with energy at the heart of our plans.”
Local businesses are invited to come along to an Open Day at ergo on Wednesday, 6 June, between 10am-3pm. As well as an opportunity to tour the new building, those attending will be able to discuss ways of reducing their carbon footprint and how to become more energy efficient with a range of exhibitors.
