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Nottingham Trent University unveils new £9m centre for enterprise

A new centre on Nottingham Trent University’s City campus has just been completed providing high-quality facilities and extensive business support to entrepreneurs, start-ups, small to medium-sized businesses and larger enterprises.

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    Dryden Enterprise Centre

    A new centre on Nottingham Trent University’s City campus has just been completed providing high-quality facilities and extensive business support to entrepreneurs, start-ups, small to medium-sized businesses and larger enterprises.

    The £9m Dryden Enterprise Centre (DEC) is set over four floors utilising the latest technology and modern facilities including open-plan desk areas, private offices, meeting rooms, event space and communal areas to encourage networking.

    The DEC will be the new hub through which staff, students, graduates and external business members can benefit from a range of support, mentoring, networking and training programmes delivered by NTU’s Enterprise team, business experts from Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and associate partners.

    The Centre will link industry and academics, enabling them to work together on projects and challenges; creating a community of collaboration and connectivity. Businesses will also have access to tailored support to help them achieve their business goals such as externally funding support, access to upskilling opportunities or recruitment help.

    The Dryden Enterprise Centre has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, who will continue to support the work of the DEC until March 2022.

    Michael Carr, Executive Dean of Enterprise at Nottingham Trent University, said: “After three years in the making, I am very excited that Nottingham Trent is opening the doors on our new Dryden Enterprise Centre.

    The work of the centre will build on our success in creating and supporting enterprises to grow, utilising a purpose-built building and state of the art facilities. We look forward to welcoming a range of co-locatees as we open and then see this develop into a flourishing enterprise community over the next couple of years.”

    The building itself has been constructed to meet NTU’s sustainability credentials. It utilises features such as plants to add oxygen, remove CO² and promote wellbeing as well as the use of concrete for its thermal mass benefits.

    Ian Taylor, managing director of Nottingham-based Henry Brothers Midlands, main contractors for the development said:

    “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege for Henry Brothers to have worked once again with Nottingham Trent University to create another first-class development on campus.

    “The Dryden Enterprise Centre is an incredible building, with superb detailing. It’s been a fantastic team effort to build this high quality facility which will have a positive impact not only at the university, but also on the wider economy of Nottingham and the East Midlands. Henry Brothers is proud to have played a key role in developing the Dryden Enterprise Centre and I’d like to thank everyone on the team for their vision, skill and hard work.”

    For more information on the Centre, including the range of membership options available, visit https://www.dec.space/about/

    Published on 15 April 2021
    • Category: Press office