Companies looking for support are being offered shared workspace by a new centre in Dover which is being launched this Thursday.

The Dover Innovation Centre, at Whitecliff House, Poulton Close, provides 85,000 square feet of office and workshop facilities.

The centre offers fully-serviced offices, telecom services including high speed broadband, plus meeting and training rooms.

There is also desk-shared office space, virtual office, a “maker’s space” for experimenters and designers and a free business lounge.

Tenants include London Fancy Box and Abba Commercials, employing more than 400 people in manufacturing and engineering.

The centre can also help to develop links within the east Kent economy by encouraging innovation and enterprise and fostering partnerships between industry and academia.

A private venture between Whitecliff Dover and Regen Offices, using local expertise and national experience, the centre will be managed locally and aims to become a magnet for business in east Kent.

“Business and innovation centres are created for different reasons,” said Peter Green, managing director of Regen Offices.

“We hope that the Dover Innovation Centre will become a catalyst for business and economic growth in Dover and throughout east Kent.

“We are working with Roger Greaves, the owner of Whitecliff Dover and RP Greaves, and his 40 years’ service and local expertise in the community has helped us to develop a bespoke solution to achieve community and economic outputs without the necessity to spend millions of the public sector purse.”

Mr Greaves said: “We have always been committed to developing business throughout east Kent and a centre such as this has given us the opportunity to help local companies or those wishing to start a business get a foothold on the ladder to success.”

Companies interested in the services at the Dover Innovation Centre may call Sezen Zeki on 01304 744100, 07921 452582 or email sezen.zeki@regenoffices.co.uk