Local businesses will be opening up empty shops for free, under a new scheme governed by Harrow Council.
The Start Here project has been launched to help local busin
esses start up their businesses as a bid to remove the ‘cost ‘barrier’ as a way to help new Harrow businesses ‘grow and develop’, according to their website.
Over the next couple of months, businesses will currently be moving into 1 The Bridge, Wealdstone for a short period of time to use the premises. Local entrepreneurs will be able to move in rent free for up to four weeks.
According to their website, Start
Here aim to provide space for businesses to “facilitate the delivery of a variety of uses relating to leisure, food, family, health, community facilities and entertainment activities in Harrow Town Centre”.
Today marks the first day of business for Waverly G, who will be specialising in vintage urban street wear. Business owner Waverly George has labelled her brand as ‘a premium standard and quality.’ She will be taking over Radiate, which was the first local business to move into the store last month. They have been using the premises to sell handmade products such as t-shirts, handbags, jewellery and clocks.
Harrow Business Den competition winner, Donna Bonfield will be next in line to take over the premises with her cake company in February. Mrs Bonfield explained that the competition has “almost relaunched and retreaded the company.
“I think that it enabled me to take an idea and put it into practice properly,” said Mrs Bonfield.
Harrow Councillor Keith Ferry, deputy leader and business portfolio holder, praised the project as a “good idea” as he described the projects benefits.
“It allows people to start businesses without risks and we hope it will make them more successful.”
On the council website, Mr Ferry had also mentioned how other projects will help improve the borough, as the council are ’embarking on a £1.73 billion regeneration programme to build a better Harrow for residents and businesses.’
The project is set to run over the next fifteen months, which will help and create approximately 50 local new small businesses and community projects.
The scheme is set to run until April 2017 in a total of four sites across Harrow.