Talk:Butterfield Green

Butterfield Green is a new high-technology park located on the outskirts of Luton on the A505 to Hitchin.

Info from Luton Website (www.Luton.gov.uk): Luton Borough Council has taken a major step towards the opening of the new innovation centre and business base at Butterfield Technology Park with the appointment of Basepoint plc as operator of the centre.

Basepoint plc has signed a long lease to run the centre in partnership with the council, and will provide a high quality, supportive environment in which small businesses will be able to flourish and grow. The innovation centre will offer first class accommodation and comprehensive business support on ‘easy in - easy out’ terms.

With around a hundred business start-up units being made available, the centre is expected to create up to 450 jobs in the new technology sector.

Cllr Sid Rutstein, executive member with special responsibility for regeneration, commented: “Basepoint brings a strong track record in managing quality environments for small businesses. We will be working with them to enable the new centre to build lasting partnerships with key local organisations such as Chamber Business and the University of Luton, which will make an important contribution to the success of the Innovation Centre and Business Base.”

Nick Smith, Basepoint’s managing director, added: “Basepoint is very pleased to be able to make a significant investment in this important project and to be providing much needed high quality accommodation to the small-business community in the Luton area”.

The centre, to be known as Basepoint Business and Innovation Centre, Luton will be opening in spring 2007. Anyone interested in further information about renting accommodation in the centre can contact the council’s regeneration service on (01582) 546970 to register their interest. Notes for editors

1. The Innovation Centre and Business Base at Luton is an £18.5m project funded by the East of England Development Agency and the European Union.

2. Basepoint plc specialises in the development and operation of Managed Business, Innovation and Enterprise Centres. These centres provide comprehensive accommodation and support infrastructure packages to new and early stage companies within a supportive and secure environment. The company operates both wholly and part-owned centres as well as managing facilities on behalf of public sector bodies. Group operations currently extend across Southern England and the Midlands, with additional opportunities under assessment across the UK.

Basepoint is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ACT Foundation, a leading grant-making charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need. The ACT Foundation derives its income from a substantial and diversified property portfolio of which Basepoint is a major constituent. www.basepoint.co.uk