The Gloucestershire Ethnic Minority Business Association (GEMBA) has been established since 1993 to promote the development of ethnic minority businesses in Gloucestershire.
Providing advice to those considering starting up a business, the association also helps to identify businesses with growth opportunities and assist owners to achieve that potential.
The association opened up their Sinope Business Centre in 2003 to help start-up businesses overcome one of the biggest hurdles they face - namely finding affordable premises.
The centre is located in the Barton and Tredworth ward, classified by Gloucester City Council as a regeneration area focused solely on the creation of living spaces over existing shop and retail schemes. This means planning permission for conversion of retail space for offices is restricted - so the centre provides vital office space for start-up businesses before they move onto premises of their own.
After buying three derelict buildings, GEMBA were able to convert them into a business centre offering eight office units as they had not previously served as retail premises. Refurbishment of the building required £425,000 investment. The South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) provided £100,000, with additional monies being raised on top of that to meet the total cost (including an additional £165,000 private investment).
Units are let on short, medium and long-term tenancy agreements at fixed rates starting from £55 a week, inclusive of business rates and utility bills, and additional meeting facilities are available for hire to both tenants and outside businesses at an hourly rate. Since opening the units have been fully occupied with three business having successfully moved on to premises of their own. Six of the eight units are currently occupied.
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