The Government is planning to kick-start the economy by offering their unused Government offices to small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for affordable office space.
Currently the Government has around 300 offices and commercial properties in its portfolio that are not in use. By utilising these vacant properties and offering them to businesses starting out, they are not only generating an income, but also helping businesses get off the ground by giving them resources as well as affordable space to work in.
Speaking of the vacant buildings, Prime Minister David Cameron stated: “The British Government has a huge stock of buildings at our disposal. The first priority for the ones we aren’t using is to sell them off, but in the meantime, many are going to be sitting idle.
“So let’s match the capacity we’ve got with the need that’s out there. Let’s provide office space where we can to those who can use it.”
The incentive is part of the ‘Business in You’ campaign, which inspires people to develop and grow a business idea into a fully operational company. Speaking of the campaign, Mr Cameron said: “Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the British economy and I am determined that we, working with the private sector, do everything we can to help them to start up and to grow in 2012.
“I want to encourage people to go for it and make this the year of enterprise – whether that is fulfilling their dream of starting a new business or taking the leap to grow their business, to employ more staff, or to start exporting.”
The news is welcomed in Sheffield after it was reported that two Government offices, for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), were to shut their doors for good. Chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, James Newman said it was an: “Excellent initiative to put public assets to work.”
However, he was worried that the scheme could be abused if the right measures were not enforced: “It also needs to be for new, but commercially viable businesses and start-ups only rather than existing ones moving to take advantage of the short-term gains. Otherwise nothing is gained.”
The Government are to recruit third sector organisations to assign and manage the available office spaces, to ensure that the campaign runs smoothly.
Are you a small up and coming business? Would you use a Government office space?
