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Thursday, 3 May 2012

Making the Town Hall a creative place for business

Town HallAmy Leader is joining the staff team at Hebden Bridge Town Hall, as the new business development officer.   Amy will be working with the tenants of the Hebden Bridge Creative Quarter enterprise units in the Town Hall to build a lively and successful location for local small businesses.

Sarah Lister-Blow, Executive Director of Hebden Bridge Community Association which runs the Town Hall, says:

“Amy’s role is to make the business space in the Town Hall zing with life and energy, complementing all the community activities which will also be taking place in our new Town Hall buildings.  

"We already have some extremely innovative small businesses lined up ready to move into their units when the new building opens in two months’ time and Amy will be working with them to build a vibrant community of enterprises. 

"Hebden Bridge has a strong reputation as a centre for creative and digital businesses, and we will be building on these foundations.”

Amy Leader has played a strong role in local community life since moving back to the area where she grew up four years ago.  She is the founder and President of Hebden Bridge Women’s Institute, and has also recently become secretary of Hebden Bridge Partnership, the voluntary sector umbrella organisation.  She has direct experience of running her own successful small business, having run the Hebden Bridge haberdashery shop Ribbon Circus until summer last year. since when she has been working as a freelance business adviser.  She has also been very active in promoting local businesses through her engagement in Hebden Bridge Business Association and through organising the Festive Fandango Christmas promotion in the town.  Amy has past experience as a BBC researcher and assistant producer, and as a researcher for Comic Relief.

As well as the new community facilities, the Hebden Bridge Town Hall development includes thirty enterprise units and a business lounge dedicated for local people who want space for hot-desking on an occasional basis.  Over half of the units have been taken already, and a further four units are now close to being let.  Interest in the Business Associates scheme, which offers access to the business lounge and hot-desking facilities, is also growing. 

Amy Leader says: “This is a very exciting time to be joining the Town Hall team.  I’ll be working to make sure that all our new business tenants have the best possible start to their time in the building.  We’re already planning a series of events and activities to make sure that Hebden Bridge Creative Quarter lives up to its name as a thriving centre for enterprise.”

Amy’s appointment completes the Town Hall staffing team, which also includes Sue Graham, the Town Hall administrator, and Chris Mackins, who has recently been appointed as community project officer, through funding provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

The main construction work on the new Town Hall extension has been funded partly from support from the Communitybuilders fund and partly by the European Union for the region’s economic development,  through the Yorkshire and Humber European Regional Development Fund programme 2007-13. The ERDF programme provides investment support to help regions improve their economies and help local businesses, people and communities to improve their prospects.

Previously, on the HebWeb: read how this groundmaking project has developed since 2007

New choral work to mark opening of community hall (1st April 2012)

Hebden Bridge to host national Ambitious Communities conference (27 March 2012)

Town Hall team seek café and catering operator (19 Feb 2012)

Town Hall looks for enthusiastic project officer (2 Feb 2012)

Town Hall gets Heritage Lottery Fund backing (Dec 2011)

Sarah is Town Hall's first executive director (Nov 2011)

Job vacancy: Executive Director, Hebden Bridge Community Association Ltd (Aug 2011)

Town Hall will Open Doors as part of National Heritage Weekend
(2nd August 2011)

Chance to find out the latest about Town Hall construction on Saturday (June 2011)

Chance to find out about Town Hall offered on Thursday (May 2011)

Pennine Quarry will supply stone for Town Hall (April 2011)

Town Hall Development gets go ahead
(Dec 2010)

Calderdale planners give green light to Town Hall plans

Calderdale Council give 125 year lease for Town Hall (26 October 2010)

HebWeb Forum discussion

Town Hall Development Plans go to Calderdale (16 July 2010)

Community-run Town Hall to honour co-operative pioneer (June 2010)

Public consultation on Town Hall plans (May 2010)

Hebden Bridge Town Hall passes into Community Ownership (March 2010)

Association seeks Treasurer to take on Town Hall role (2 March 2010)

Invitation to see plans for Town Hall (Feb 2010)

Weddings and civil partnerships at Town Hall (Jan 2010)

Town Hall Future Secure (Dec 2009)

Open Doors at Town Hall attracts hundreds

One of England’s smallest parishes makes big contribution towards plans for Hebden Bridge’s Town Hall

Two major grants boost Town Hall Project

Town Hall Group seeks ‘Friends’ (April 2009)

Hebden Bridge Town Hall project: Transfer of Town Hall to community ownership one step closer (March 2009)

HebWeb News: New Charity created to manage Town Hall (Jan 2009)

HebWeb News: Government gives thumbs up to Hebden Bridge Town Hall plans (July 2008)

HebWeb News: Plans to put Town Hall once again at the heart of local life (October 2007)


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