The multi-million-pound Rail Accelerator and Innovation Solutions hub for Enterprise, (RaisE) business centre in Goole is now officially open following a launch event last week.

Over 150 guests joined representatives from the three key stakeholders at RaisE – East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Siemens Mobility and University of Birmingham – for an opportunity to learn more about the business centre and the commitment to support SMEs within the rail sector in terms of the office, meeting and business provision available.

The key stakeholders spoke at the event to reflect on the RaisE project and its significance to Goole before guests and dignitaries were given an opportunity to tour the building for themselves and learn more about what RaisE will deliver. Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, also attended the event and unveiled an opening plaque to celebrate the occasion.

RaisE business centre, located within the Goole 36 Enterprise Zone, provides 3,200 square metres of commercial floor space made up of grade-A office and workshop accommodation. This space is available to let to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in any sector and is not exclusive to those involved in rail.

The striking three-storey building, with a prominent frontage to Tom Pudding Way, includes spacious, modern conference rooms, smaller ground floor meeting rooms, communal break-out areas and free on-site car parking for occupants and visitors. A welcoming communal cafe hub that will act as a focal point for the business park will also be operational from June 2022.

Each office and workshop, set over the ground and first floor, ranges from between 187 square feet to 840 square feet in size. Costs start at around £25 per square foot, which includes power, heat, light and most importantly easy in /out terms.

The second floor is now the office base for Siemens Mobility, who are the catalyst for creating the Goole Rail Village. Their presence within RaisE and the new rail factory site opposite the business centre will create up to 700 new jobs.

It is also estimated that the business centre, via its occupiers, will create over 90 new job opportunities now businesses are beginning to move in.

To help fund this £8.1million capital project grant money was secured including£1.5m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £1m from the Getting Building Fund, via the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP).

The University of Birmingham is home to the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education. Europe’s largest university-based specialist railway research, education and innovation centre that provides; world-class research, education, and innovation to the global railway industry of which its engineers, academics and industry experts will have an office base on the first floor, at this new Goole business centre.

The breadth of skills, facilities and reach at the University’s railway centre will enable businesses to diversify into rail and for those already operating in the sector further develop their products and services. 

Phase two of RaisE will now follow on the same site and will be a £50m centre of excellence for rail and research and innovation developed between Siemens Mobility and the University of Birmingham.

Both phases, in conjunction with the £200m Siemens Mobility manufacturing facility, which is currently under construction, will be an exciting partnership between industry, academia and the public sector will help create a ‘Rail Village’ concept that will attract further added value activity from the wider supply chain.

Councillor Jonathan Owen, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “It really is fantastic to see the RaisE business centre in Goole become operational and this exciting project, alongside the rest of the ‘Rail Village’ is brilliant news for Goole and the surrounding areas.

“The relationship between the three key stakeholders has ensured we now have an example of how the public sector, industry and academia can work together to ensure Goole continues to be shown as a town on the rise.”

Sambit Banerjee, Managing Director, Rolling Stock and Customer Services for Siemens Mobility, said: “It is fantastic to see the RaisE business centre officially launched. We at Siemens Mobility are pleased to have worked together with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the University of Birmingham to make this happen.

“This will be a great space for collaboration as part of the ‘Rail Village’. It will provide a valuable space for providing research and development support for start-ups and SMEs in the UK rail industry. I look forward to seeing the development of RaisE as the forum in the UK to showcase the very best of British innovation to the rest of the world.”

Professor Clive Roberts, Professor of Railway Systems and Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are thrilled to see the RaisE business centre open for business. We have worked very closely with our long-standing partner Siemens Mobility and East Riding of Yorkshire Council to build a centre that will place Goole and local businesses in the area at the centre of rail innovation.

“At the University and within the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education we actively engage with industry to develop new ideas, overcome challenges, and find smarter ways to operate.

“The open dialogue between the three stakeholders and now a place where we are present together truly provides businesses in the area and beyond an opportunity to see what working with the public sector, industry and academia can achieve for their business and local town.”

Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, added: “The Goole 36 development and the creation of the new RaisE Centre is levelling-up in action. It shows what can be achieved when business, academia, Government, and the Council work together and pool their efforts.

“Goole is an increasingly attractive place to invest in and we all have a shared vision of making the town the centre of the rail industry of the future.”

Amanda Hoggart, business centre manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, added: “Our business centres have a number of different-sized office and workshop spaces available to let and can be accessed 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.

“Each centre has its own pro-active on-site team, including experienced business advisers and a professional, front-of-house reception to support your business. Flexible terms and great conference and meeting facilities RaisE along with all our other business centres are the perfect location for your business”

Construction of the RaisE business centre was undertaken by the independent contractor Willmott Dixon, in conjunction with East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Infrastructure & Facilities team.

For further information on RaisE or to book a meeting or conference room, please contact the team at RaisE on 01482 391660, or email raise@eastriding.gov.uk