Arthur Street Enterprise Park
NEW! Please click on the external web link below to view a collection of recent photos taken by Mark Harvey of ID-8 Photography or check out the slideshow.
 |
| Social Enterprises based at our Arthur Street Enterprise Park in West Hull |
In the late 1990s we were fortunate enough to be given European funding to renovate an empty commercial building which we needed as a base in West Hull. We eventually found a site at the rear of 23 Arthur Street.
Unfortunately most of the original dilapidated factory that was on the site could not be renovated because it wasn't structurally sound. This meant that the majority of the old factory had to be torn down. We were not disheartened by this and began to build our new workshops virtually from scratch using the dimensions of the original building.
Just under a year later the project was finished and we and ASTC (Arthur Street Trading Company) moved into the newly-renovated premises. Arthur Street Trading Company is a workers-co-operative that delivers organic fruit and vegetable boxes to customers in and around Hull. They also produce their own organic hummus. We and ASTC are still based at the rear of Arthur Street.
Again a large number of volunteers as well as Giroscope workers were involved with this project. Throughout our existence we have made a point of passing on our diverse range of construction and administration skills to often poorly qualified and disadvantaged people. We believe this process has a huge positive impact on their lives because they have a goal to focus on, a long with all the things they gain through working on a construction site. For example, self-belief, self-confidence, positive role models, communication and team working skills.
We think that every volunteer that has spent time contributing to the organisation is a more employable person because a potential employer can see they have some work experience and skills. This is fundamentally important because if these disadvantaged and vulnerable people get a job they are much less likely to turn back to crime and anti-social behaviour.
Our philosophy of providing high-quality and affordable business space to various small companies has continued over the last decade. We remember how difficult it was for us to find a suitable unit to rent in the city that we could afford. This means that we charge tenants a fair rent based on their circumstances.
Over the years we have provided workshop, office and storage space to numerous start-up businesses and social enterprises. These have included Hull Community Radio, Mobile Music Project, Humberside CDA (Co-operative Development Agency), Feast Rising, Creative Projects and HEMCC (Hull Ethnic Minorities Community Centre) to name but a few. Humberside CDA, Feast Rising, Creative Projects and HEMCC are still based at our Arthur Street Enterprise Park.
Humberside CDA provides mainly free business support to co-operatives, social enterprises and other 'not for profit' organisations. Feast Rising is a small bread making firm which sells its produce at local farmers' markets. Creative Projects is a social enterprise which specializes in the mobile provision of creative activities of all kinds. HEMCC is a small company that teaches English and citizenship skills to people from all over the world that have settled in Hull.
Related Links
Arthur Street Trading Company - www.arthursorganics.com
Creative Projects - www.creative-projects.info
Hull Ethnic Minority Community Centre - www.hemccfl.org.uk
Humberside CDA - www.humbersidecda.info