THE Southampton Enter-prise Hub was formally opened at the city's Chilworth Science Park, thanks to the South East England Development Agency (Seeda).

Southampton Test MP, Dr Alan Whitehead, declared the Enterprise Hub officially launched in front of a gathering of entrepreneurs, business and academic leaders.

Designed to provide support for entrepreneurs in local communities the Enterprise Hub will act as a catalyst to encourage innovation and enterprise. Its aim is to stimulate the growth of small businesses in the local clusters of phototonics, media, software, electronics, marine technology and knowledge-based businesses.

Managed by hub director, Steve Davis, it will serve the area of Southampton city, Test Valley, New Forest, Winchester and Eastleigh, with the Chilworth Business Incubator at its heart. Although the incubator has only recently begun operations, it houses 11 companies within 9,000 sq ft including a number of spin-off companies from Southampton University. The Southampton hub has been working closely with the university to take advantage of its knowledge and technologies to support start-ups and other companies in the area.

Seeda chairman, Allan Willett CMG, said: "Seeda developed the Enterprise Hub initiative after drawing on the experience of leading company incubators around the world. The Enterprise Hub network will remove many of the barriers to survival for new and growing companies by improving their access to technology, research, business support, flexible workspace and early stage finance."