New hub to empower entrepreneurs and improve communities

Enterprise Works will offer a range of business services, including office space; conference facilities; shared workspaces; training and networking events.

Members of the Enterprise Works team will be based at the newly-renovated Guildhall, which has just been acquired by the University on a 15-year lease following a multi-million pound renovation.

The facility will be available for entrepreneurs from the Yorkshire region, as well as building on existing services offered to University staff and students.

Power of enterprise

Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Engagement, said

“Enterprise Works will support the region’s entrepreneurs and businesses, but more than that, enhance the power of enterprise and entrepreneurship to support communities, economies, and lives.

“We want to ensure that everyone who wants to be enterprising is supported to do so, whatever their background, and to make enterprise everybody’s business.”

Enterprise Works will also help to develop small business training and offer funding opportunities to entrepreneurs across York and the wider region. It will deliver a wide-range of events to bring together thought leaders, business owners, policy makers and researchers to work on crucial social and business issues, as well as create a new community allowing entrepreneurs to access expertise and peer support. 

Social innovation

Director of Enterprise Works, Sam Gardner, said

“Community is at the heart of Enterprise Works, and we are thankful for the generosity we have seen from our alumni and the local business community for this initiative so far.

“We are excited to support local businesses at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey and to work with them to shape this community in the future.”

Enterprise Works will run social innovation projects to improve access to entrepreneurship support for all communities and work with the entrepreneurial community, researchers and policy makers to influence government policy. 

Talent base

Helen Simpson, Chair of York and North Yorkshire LEP, said:

“The next generation of entrepreneurs will grow some great new businesses, which will support the development and expansion of our regional economy. 

“We’re delighted to see the University’s commitment to entrepreneurship and to developing our talent base. We look forward to continuing to work with the University in the development of partnerships across the city and the region to ensure holistic, connected support for our start-ups.”

Next generation

Julian Richer, Good Business Charter and Founder of Richer Sounds, said: “I am excited by the prospect of Enterprise Works and all it will do to support the next generation of responsible business leaders and entrepreneurs. 

“Supporting the region’s economies to recover quickly and to recover well by providing opportunities and inspiring entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds is exactly what we need now.  And I am particularly proud that it is based here in York which is the UK’s first Good Business Charter City”

Enterprise Works was officially launched at an event on the 24 June 2022.