Stevenage 75th anniversary magazine | biz4Biz - Magazine - Page 7
Adrian Hawkins
Development Board working in close
partnership with the excellent and
hardworking Council regeneration team
and local government representatives,
relate to a few key areas including
connectivity, heritage, arts and culture,
leisure, regeneration and land use and
the all-important skills and enterprise.
Today Stevenage is the second-best Town
in the UK outside of London for start-up
businesses and this position can truly
develop at pace with some of the facilities
coming soon to our Town.
Our projects include the Station Gateway,
the Stevenage Innovation & Technology
centre (SITECH), a Heritage/cultural
centre, and Town Enterprise and
Innovation Centre.
The completion this year of the Co-Space
working environment in Town Square
and the rapid agreement and starting of
work on the Autolus project in Marshgate
is testimony to the intent that we have, to
change the face of the town, and quickly.
This regeneration is all about looking
forward to a new Stevenage a “STEMCity”,
where STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) is one of
the vital areas where we are passionate
to see a real legacy. There is proven and
growing demand for skilled technical
workers for jobs within STEM industries.
The Stevenage Innovation & Technology
Centre (SITECH) will bridge the skills
gap, train the workforce of the future,
and stimulate job creation by providing
specialisms in STEM sectors – all of
which are critical to the Stevenage area
and the wider Hertfordshire and UK
economy.
My thanks to all our local
politicians regardless of their
political divide for their foresight
and support with our plans for
Stevenage and to our government
for their commitment and investment
in our Town, my fellow Board members
for devoting their time voluntarily, and
last but by no means least, the exemplary
regeneration team led by Chris Barnes for
their vision and continuing support.
So, the regeneration already undertaken
and the work in the pipeline clearly
shows that 2021 has been a year of great
achievement, but that 2022 will see even
more landmarks achieved.
It’s fitting that as Stevenage celebrates its
75th anniversary, it is not a time to look
back at the past, but to look forward to a
bright future, one which every person in
the town can share in and benefit from as
we work towards making Stevenage Even
Better.
Adrian Hawkins, OBE
Chairman biz4Biz, Publisher
Insight Magazine
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