Over the past year, the team at the Thames Innovation Centre has helped launch over 50 new businesses. Businesses that include hi-tech plumbers, pre-natal scanning technology, IT development, training services, a hip hop record company and even a company that has developed an eco-toilet have benefited from the various training courses and the expert advice and support that has been made available at the Thames Innovation Centre for the benefit of would be entrepreneurs in the Bexley area.  

"It's been an exciting year," said Lesley Rubenstein, Chief Executive of the Thames Innovation Centre. "It's been very rewarding to have helped people turn their ideas and aspirations into tangible businesses. Many of these start-ups are now growing and developing into impressive companies and taking on staff and moving into bigger offices within the TIC." 

In additional to modern and stylish starter-units for smaller companies, the TIC offers a broad business support programs that include help with access to finance, marketing support, book keeping courses, sales training, taxation courses and courses on employment law. 

Pciture : Lee Durrant and Greg Tatton of Comcept with Richard Edwards, Operations Officer at the Thames Innovation Centre

One recent company that has set up office at the Thames Innovation Centre is Comcept, a recruitment company that specialises in the recruitment of expert telecommunication and data communication engineers. Ahead of forecasts and already growing, Comcept have welcomed the business support that they have received and have ambitious plans for the future.  

"We chose the Thames Innovation Centre because we felt it had a 'wow factor'", said Lee Durrant, a Director of Comcept. "When you walk in, the Atrium is really impressive and the whole place looks and feels modern and stylish. Our office has a rather grand fully glazed wall overlooking the Atrium from the first floor and has quite a creative vibe. For us, this is important because we often need to entertain clients and we wanted a location that reflects our aspiration to deliver a very professional and high quality service." 

Comcept feel confident that they have a bright future. The telecom and datacom industry that they supply is still growing due to the demand from businesses that require modern IT infrastructures, whereby extensive telephone systems and increasingly complex computer systems are integrated. The increasing demand for faster data rates, video conferencing and network security is also driving growth within this industry. Comcept are confident that their company will grow organically and be recruiting local people, bringing employment to the area.

"Although we have many years experience of placing engineers within the technology sector and considerable knowledge of the datacoms and telecoms world, our expertise in actually how to grow a business has been limited," said Lee. "Whilst at the Thames Innovation Centre we have developed a great deal more essential business skills through attending the various courses and presentations and through counseling with the business support team. We now feel far more confident about where we are going and what is really possible. In fact, as a business mentor, Lesley Rubenstein herself is excellent and we really value this level of support for our company." 

For anyone in the Bexley region thinking of starting a business, the Thames Innovation Centre is able to provide a broad range of business support services and training course. Office and workshop space is available on generous terms and the Thames Innovation Centre also boasts conference facilities, impressive IT facilities, meeting rooms and a cafe. 

"It's very early days for the Thames Innovation Centre and Veridion Park, but it's good to see that it is already starting to deliver on its promise to contribute to the regeneration of the Thames Gateway area," said Lesley Rubenstein. "We feel very passionate about helping people get started in business and helping them grow and develop their ideas. In this respect, we feel that we are making an important  difference and remain excited to see what new businesses we can contribute to, during 2008." 

Contact: Robert Key, Marketing Co-Ordinator
E-mail: robert.key@thamesinnovationcentre.com
Tel: 020 8320 1000