Bolton’s entrepreneurs, business leaders, councillors and more, recently came together to celebrate the official launch of The Wellsprings, the town’s new office, meeting and co-working innovation space.
Dignitaries including the Bolton mayor and leader of Bolton council were invited to tour the centre to learn more about the huge range of benefits it offers to its users and the wider region.
The Wellsprings is based in the heart of the town centre and boasts a wealth of high-quality features, including a welcoming business lounge, fully-kitted meeting rooms and a relaxing wellness space.
Alongside the centre manager and team who will manage the day-to-day running of the centre, innovation director Ian Balderson will provide strategic growth and innovation support to businesses who use the space. Businesses and members will also benefit from a calendar of networking events and workshops.
The centre aims to build a collective of creative, collaborative and technology-driven enterprises, and is part of Bolton Council’s wider strategy to drive investment, encourage innovation and create more quality jobs.
Oxford Innovation Space will manage The Wellsprings on behalf of Bolton Council. Users of The Wellsprings will further benefit from The Wire – a new digital platform that aims to connect people from across Oxford Innovation Space’s national network of ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs.
Cllr Nick peel, leader of Bolton Council, said: “It was a pleasure to be part of the launch event at The Wellsprings, and to welcome our business community into this wonderful new space. The centre reflects Bolton Council’s ongoing commitment to investing in the borough and creating first-class spaces where businesses and residents can thrive.”
Elaine McKechnie, commercial director of Oxford Innovation Space, which manages The Wellsprings, said: “We’re immensely proud to be partnering with Bolton Council, whose bold vision has brought to life a truly inspiring innovation space for the town’s businesses and entrepreneurs. Walking through the centre today fills me with excitement – it’s clear the team will drive it forward and make it the key destination for business in Bolton.
“Spaces like this are gaining momentum across the UK. Innovation hubs are about far more than bricks and square footage – they’re about the communities that grow within them, the collaboration between businesses, the support networks we build, and the expertise we share. That’s what makes the difference, and today, it genuinely feels like Bolton’s business community has found its home.”
The Wellsprings renovation was backed by £6.9m from the Towns Fund with a further £1.4m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It was part of wider ongoing regeneration work to make Bolton town centre the ideal place to live, work, study, visit and invest.
