Heywood’s Old Police Station celebrated a decade of business support

Guests wtih Mayoress Christine Duckworth and Mayor Ian Duckworth

The Old Police Station in Heywood celebrated its tenth birthday this week, marking a decade since the council run building was converted into managed workspace.

Ten years ago £1.3 million was invested by New Heart for Heywood to transform the building into modern offices for rent after it was vacated by Greater Manchester Police when they moved to their new Queen’s Park Road site.

To mark the occasion, fifty guests including current tenants and customers, former tenants and representatives of organisations involved with the centre joined the Mayor and Mayoress to toast the occasion.

The Mayor, Councillor Ian Duckworth, who opened the event, said The Old Police Station provides a vital role in helping companies as well as boosting the local economy. He added: “Ten years on the building still looks immaculate and it has already helped 85 businesses, giving them access to services and advice that they need. Long may it continue.

"I’d like to thank Ania, the building manager and her staff, as well as Simon Turner the gardener for keeping things looking so colourful outside.”

Current tenants at the event included Gary Guile, owner of financial advisors Mortgage Choice, who moved to the centre last year with two staff and who are recruiting a third this summer. He said: “The services here are second to none, the atmosphere is great and it’s a lovely building to work in. We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

The longest serving tenant, national care charity MacIntyre, have been at the Heywood base for 10 years, and Cath Kelly said it’s a popular location with all their staff:

She said: “It’s easy to get to, we find it good value, and we have staff who travel up from Milton Keynes to use the conference rooms, so it’s very useful to have the meeting facilities on site.”