The Innovation Centres in Torbay are an example of the EU helping businesses here in the South West. It is the EU at its best; supporting the entrepreneurial spirit, helping local companies which are so important to jobs and wealth.

Incubation centres are key to boosting the survival of small businesses, from 1-3 in 10 succeeding to 7 or 8 out of 10.

gwatson
Graham Watson
Devon MEP

seedlingAbout us

Our mission at South West Innovation Centres is to nurture small companies and help them succeed - creating and sustaining new wealth and employment for local economies.

Founded in 2006 by Torbay Development Agency, we now work with a number of partners to provide flexible and low-cost business premises and to create a range of support services. Studies prove that this is a combination which substantially increases new business survival rates.

 

We currently manage Centres in:

vantagePaignton
Opened in November 2006, this Centre operates from a self contained suite of offices on the Ground Floor of the outstanding £28m South Devon College. Torbay Council and the Torbay Development Agency spearheaded the establishment of the business units, and obtained funding from the SWRDA, match-funded by the Government Office South West through the European Objective 2 scheme.

 

lymington roadTorquay
Launched in November 2008, this Innovation Centre operates from a purpose-built complex close to the heart of Torquay. Torbay Development Agency secured funding of £1.5m from the SWRDA to enable the new centre to be constructed. Another £600,000 came from the EU Economic Regeneration Development Fund with additional finances from the Single Regeneration Budget and Torbay Council.



ivybridge innovation centreIvybridge
Completed in April 2008, The Watermark Innovation Centre occupies the top floor of a three storey purpose-built complex opposite the Town Hall in the centre of Ivybridge. On the ground floor is a state of the art library and IT suite, whilst on the second floor, there is a large cinema/function room and a conference room. The £4m Watermark project has been funded by Devon County Council, South Hams District and Ivybridge Town Council, together with Devon Renaissance using funds from SWRDA and the SW Objective 2 programme.