Business scheme is streets ahead
Council start-up initiative extended to towns
Budding business tycoons in Johnstone and Renfrew could soon be able to make use of fresh spaces created to help boost new ventures.
In November last year, Renfrewshire Council opened up a base in Paisley’s George Street with charity LaunchIt - previously known as the London Youth Support Trust - as part of its Start- Up Street initiative to allow fledgling firms to lease space and grow their operation.
Seven new businesses have already hired units there and half the floorspace has been taken, with tenants including clothing designers and retro sweet suppliers making use of the facility.
Now the council is looking to expand the Start-Up Street scheme into Johnstone and Renfrew by the end of this year with the aim of creating a network of innovative and supportive spaces for a range of businesses across the region.
The initiative was launched back in 2018 to better support business startups and provide subsidised managed workspace for new firms.
Papers being presented to the council’s leadership board this week state a partnership is being developed with Active Communities in Johnstone to use the large garage buildings behind the old police station in Quarry Street to provide four standalone, 24-hour accessible spaces for start-ups.
Active Communities are in the process of turning the old cop shop into a community hub that will offer event space, office, and training facilities.
Meanwhile, council premises have been identified in Dunlop Crescent in Renfrew and preliminary works have commenced there.
Councillor Andy Doig, who represents Johnstone North, suggested the idea of extending the scheme into the town at a full council meeting last September.
He said: “Given the grave impact of the Covid- 19 crisis on traders in Johnstone town centre, and the detrimental impact over the last year of the new Paton’s Mill Retail Park, the small businesses sector needs all the help it can get.
“So I was delighted when my suggestion to include Johnstone in the scheme was accepted by council colleagues.
“I have been a dedicated supporter of the Johnstone Business Consortium, and both my parents had small businesses, so I know how hard they work.
“In the crucial period as we come out of Covid -19 we need to give small businesses all the support we can.
“I think the new Start-Up Street hub in Johnstone will be able to do that so I am delighted at its progress.”
Each unit is due to be offered for a maximum of two years to new businesses with a rental model which increases over that time as the firm grows.
At the end of the contract period, the business would be paying the full rental value and could then move to an alternative commercial space in Renfrewshire.
In leadership board documents, council officers said: “The Start-Up
Street proposal was very well received at the previous board and members were keen to look at expanding the model into Renfrew and Johnstone.
“Over the last six months, the Economic Development Team have been looking at options for suitable premises for these developments.
“Council premises have been identified in Dunlop Crescent, Renfrew, and preliminary works have commenced there to establish suitability and to plan for a new StartUp Street proposal.
“There was a lack of appropriate vacant council premises in Johnstone, however, a partnership approach is being developed with Active Communities to repurpose the large external garage buildings to the rear of the police station.
“Work is ongoing to look at a particular focus for each proposal. Start-Up Paisley has a focus on young people.
“Others for consideration include women into business, social enterprise development and health and well-being business creation.”