Space Connections moves to new base at Inspire (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Space Connections moves to new base at Inspire

8:00am Tuesday 12th June 2012 in Business By Chris Holland, Business Reporter

A national organisation that provides teachers and schools with educational resources about space and the universe has moved its headquarters to Bradford’s newest business park, which will enable it to operate under one roof.

Space Connections has moved from Bradford College to the Inspire business park at Eccleshill, where it has taken two offices and a workspace. The new offices will accommodate five staff at its new permanent headquarters.

Space Connections will continue building on links it has established with a wide range of organisations, including NASA, the European Space Agency and the Royal Aeronautical Society, and creating programmes about space for teachers and schools.

Amelia Thomas, Space Connections finance director, said: “We’re really excited to be moving into Inspire. As soon as we visited the business park, we immediately liked both the look and feel of it and absolutely agree with Inspire’s ethos of combining business and the community.

“Our new offices will allow us to house all our operations in one place and provides a base which is both attractive and environmentally friendly. It will also allow us to connect with the community here and once we’ve settled in, we’ll be looking to hold a series of events where people can learn more about space and the universe.”

The £ 4 million Inspire business park, which includes Europe’s largest straw bale building, has been developed on a brownfield site near Eccleshill Community Hospital . Its two buildings house 14 serviced offices and 14 managed workspaces.

Inspire is owned and managed by the Newlands Community Association which provides activities including training, education, care and socialising across six locations.

Tony Holdich, NCA chief executive, said: “We’re over the moon that Space Connections has chosen to move into Inspire and are looking forward to welcoming them. Space is an exciting topic that can really help to inspire children and Space Connections provides a vital service that provides teachers with access to interesting and interactive educational resources that help really bring the fantastic subject alive.”

New tenants recently signing up at Inspire include midwives-turned-businesswomen Sharon Wilkinson and Shelley Madden, who won a competition to find someone to run the centre’s cafe. They will run the cafe alongside their existing Bumps and Babes business, which provides health and educational advice for expectant parents.

Bradford Beekeepers’ Association, which had been looking for a permanent home for some time, also moved to Inspire, where it will have four hives to provide training and educational sessions about bees.