THE new Future Business Centre at Cambridge City Council’s Guildhall was officially opened yesterday by Cllr Mark Ashton, Mayor of Cambridge.

The council has let space on the ground floor of the Guildhall to Allia, a local charitable organisation that works with charities, entrepreneurs and businesses, to run the centre.

It includes flexible workspaces, meeting rooms and collaboration areas and will support start-ups, charities and enterprises. Allia staff are operating a reception area and manage their tenants, visitors and meeting rooms.

Cllr Mike Davey, Executive Councillor for Finance, Resources and Transformation, said: “Supporting businesses and the city centre economy are priorities for us and that’s why we have worked with Allia to set up this new business centre.

“Our goal is for the centre to become a valued hub for start-ups, charities and enterprises and we’re pleased to have Allia as partners given its experience and expertise in running similar centres elsewhere in the city.

“The Guildhall is well located for organisations looking for a city centre presence and I am sure the flexible, collaborative workspace will appeal to many.”

Cllr Davey added: “Letting out the ground floor of the Guildhall will not affect any of the civic areas of the Guildhall such as the council chamber. We are reviewing our longer-term needs for city centre office space as part of the Our Cambridge transformation programme, which is modernising how services are delivered and no decisions have yet been taken.”

Letting the ground floor of the Guildhall to Allia has been made possible as many council staff have continued to work remotely since the pandemic. Office space at the council’s Mandela House offices on Regent Street meets the needs of its staff meaning that the ground floor area of the Guildhall is currently underused.