A NEW multi-million-pound enterprise and innovation centre has officially opened.

Braintree Council’s new £15.6million centre was created to support start-ups and small businesses.

The Plaza, which is just off the A131 in Great Notley, was officially opened by Braintree Council chairman Andrew Hensman in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Plaza is part of Horizon 120 - a 65-acre business, innovation and logistics park currently under construction and set to provide hi-tech, light industrial, office and logistics spaces.

The three-storey centre consists of 42 private offices for small businesses, a co-working space with dedicated desks and hot desks, shared meeting and seminar rooms, with a roof terrace, conference and event spaces and a café.

Braintree and Witham Times:

The centre has been designed to help small businesses innovate, develop and grow and it will be a place where businesses can collaborate and access support and advice to build up knowledge and skills.

The flexible event spaces and meeting rooms are designed to be ideal spaces for holding seminars, conferences and celebrations.

The council says the building has been built to "extremely high environmental standards" using innovative construction techniques and modern materials. The design means that the building will be highly energy efficient when in use. 

Braintree and Witham Times:

Along with Braintree Council’s investment of £8.6 million, the Southeast Local Enterprise Partnership (SLEP) has allocated £7 million towards the scheme from the Government’s Getting Building Fund.

The centre received the largest funding from the SLEP of any project in Essex.

This investment is expected to create up to 160 new jobs a year.

Braintree Council assets boss Kevin Bowers said: “We have created a modern centre with flexible and varied workspaces which will help small and start-up businesses innovate, develop and grow.

“With this investment, we are supporting and growing businesses as well as creating jobs to fuel the local economy.

“This is a great asset and we’re thrilled that it’s open for business.”

Businesses interested in the workspaces can visit theplazacentre.co.uk.