Young entrepreneurs are first to occupy High Wycombe’s new enterprise space

Two young entrepreneurs are the first to take up the challenge of operating their business on the High Street as part of HWBIDCo’s Enterprise HQ. The new Enterprise HQ space, created in Church Street, has been set up as a high profile commercial space to encourage new or start-up businesses to consider the benefits of trading in High Wycombe town centre.

29-year old Adeel Qureshi is running his street fashion business, Crime Clothing, there until Christmas Eve, alongside Enterprise HQ’s founding occupiers, radio station Wycombe Sound, who are using the space as a home for their official broadcast pilot.

Artist and Bucks New University student, Jake Simpson, who is 20, is gearing up for a run in the space, with a mix of art exhibitions and workshops, in February 2015.

Reflecting on his first two weeks in the space, Adeel says: “This space has been vital for my business and I can see that it will help my business grow. Without HWBIDCo I could not afford any premises, but with the opportunity Enterprise HQ provides, having my own premises on the high street has now become a possibility. These two weeks so far have been positive. I now know there is interest in my business from the people of High Wycombe. This encourages me to try and strive to provide them with my range of products.”

Jake says: “My belief as an artist is to inspire. I want my work to express openness and reach people in different ways. I hope this project helps the High Wycombe community to engage with fine art and also develop relationships with the young people I’ll be working with during my run in Enterprise HQ. It’s just a perfect space.”

The Enterprise HQ space, over two floors, is available to hire on a straightforward inclusive license to occupy in short-term lets from a couple of days through to a maximum of six weeks, where the business offer is a strong enough proposition. HWBIDCO are keen to hear from businesses that are currently trading online or at trade shows and are looking to take the first step onto the High Street, ones that are established in another town and looking to expand, or individuals looking for a space to test a start-up. Businesses can hire the space alone or as part of a group, and HWBIDCo will link would-be occupiers together if any come forward who need a share but don’t have one set up.

HWBIDCo Director with responsibility for Enterprise and Commercial Space, Matt Clarke, says: “We know that there is plenty of demand out there for space and that often it is difficult for business start-ups to take that first step into formal trading. Enterprise HQ can bridge that gap initially and allow enterprising individuals to generate a business profile and to test the market at the same time. It is particularly satisfying that two of our first occupiers are young entrepreneurs that would almost definitely not have access to such an opportunity in the wider world at this stage in their business development.”

Demand for the space in 2015 is already buoyant and anyone who is interested is encouraged to look at the HWBIDCo website as soon as possible. Occupants of Enterprise HQ will also be eligible for business support advice and guidance if their business needs it looking ahead to its next stage of development.

To kick off the occupation of the unit, HWBIDCo provided space for Wycombe Sound for the duration of their second broadcasting license from 27th November through to 24th December 2014.