Is there demand for new enterprise centre in Trim?

A feasabiity study is underway into developing an enterprise centre in Trim and budding entrepreneurs who may be interested in renting units are being asked to register their interest. Trim Town Council commissioned a feasability study into establishing an enterprise centre in the town after allocating funding in its 2010 budget, and this study is currently being carried out by consultant David McHugh. The key element is to ascertain whether or not there is demand for an enterprise centre and to find out if people who are setting up their own business would be interested in locating in such a facility. Mr McHugh gave an update on the feasability study to local town councillors at their monthly meeting last week, telling them he is seeking expressions of interest from businesspeople or those looking to set up their own business to ascertain the level of demand. Forms for expression of interest can be obtained by contacting Trim Town Council. The study will look at constructing a purpose-built enterprise centre on a greenfield site, either owned by the council or buying a private site. It will also look at the possibility of developing a centre in an existing building that could be leased or bought. Potential links with third-level institutions will also be investigated. Mr McHugh told councillors that the key area they needed to look at was demand, and asked that they let him know if they are aware of people or businesses that are starting up that may be interested in locating in an enterprise centre. "That is the key part of the whole study. If there isn't demand, there is no point in providing a centre. If there is demand, we would like to know where the demand is coming from," said Mr McHugh. He said he was trying to get unemployment statistics for the area but that a detailed breakdown was not available - the figures for the Trim office would also include the greater rural area such as Ballivor and Kildalkey. Regarding education links, Mr McHugh said that, so far, there had been a positive response. He said it was important to get as many expressions of interest as possible from those starting up businesses. Cllr Phil Cantwell suggested they put up signs on the way into Trim asking people if they would like to work in Trim, like the Work in Meath website initiative. Cllr James O'Shea asked if they needed to purchase a site or could it be rented. Mr McHugh said one area they are looking at is the possibility of leasing and renting. He said there is a lot of property in the area that may be available and could be looked at. When he asked about cost, Mr McHugh said they were not at that stage yet, but that costings would be included in the report. Cllr Donall O'Brien said he had been approached by three or four people who had heard about the plans for a centre through the grapevine and that this was "without broadcasting" it. He said interest would grow as they advertise the study and get talking to people about it. Cllr Ronan McKenna said it seemed they were concerned about the demand expressed up to now. "I do believe the enterprise centre is essential for the town. Is it a bit of a chicken and egg situation? Do you take a leap of faith at some stage in the hope that, if it is there, people will use it?" he asked. Mr McHugh replied that if the enterprise centre is there, people will know about it and look at it, but obviously there would be a cost to put it in place and they don't want to spend money if no-one is going to use it. "We need to get the balance between the two," he added. Cllr McKenna said Trim is a heritage town and they could look at developing the enterprise centre as a "heritage hub". Cllr Gerry Reilly said: "We have got to diversify as much as we can, and not go mainstream. There is plenty of space around Trim where it could be started up." Cllr Trevor Golden suggested that a public meeting would be beneficial as they needed to advertise the initiative as much as possible. "We are all working in different various parts of the country and county and we may know of people who might want to relocate to Trim. If people have any connections, make it known. The biggest stumbling block is awareness," he said. Cllr Ray Butler said they needed to push the centre as far as they could. He knew of one firm that had relocated to the North and got its premises rent-free for five years and free telephone and broadband. "We face a lot of stiff competition," he said. Trim Town Manager Kevin Stewart said: "One thing we stuggle with in Meath is that we don't have access to grant aid like other parts of the country." He said that while the centre would be flexible, there were mixes that would not work, such as if someone is in a businesses where they are hammering and making noise, it would be difficult to get someone next door who needs quiet. He said the idea of specialising in creative enterprises was something to examine.