New incubation and digital access centre makes progress in Bloxwich Town Centre
A photocall was held on Thursday 19 September to celebrate the beginning of work on the new incubation and digital access centre ‘Bloxwich Launchpad’ in Bloxwich Town Centre.
Bloxwich Launchpad, due to open to the public in early Spring 2025, will be kitted out with the latest digital tech and equipment so that residents can access IT facilities and training.
Walsall Council and its network of delivery partners will be offering skills training and support to help residents brush up on their digital skills. Everything from job applications and CV writing to more specialist digital skills like photography, will be available at the centre.
Located on the first floor of the building will be a business incubation centre including meeting rooms, crafting space and a print room, all of which have been designed to support entrepreneurs form and grow their businesses.
Local residents will also be able to access this new facility for digital training and support.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, Associate Leader of Walsall Council, said: “Bloxwich Launchpad is an exciting and much-needed project that will give residents the opportunity to access digital skills support and training in a convenient, central location.
“We know that businesses find recruiting local people difficult due to finding the right skills, so Bloxwich Launchpad is one of many schemes that will help us to address this, upskilling local people to ensure a local first approach to recruitment when opportunities arise.”
Funded through the Government’s Town Deal, the scheme aims to help local people gain digital skills and reduce digital poverty in the area, as well as offering facilities on the first floor to help small businesses.
Bloxwich Launchpad is part of Walsall borough’s wider £1.5billion transformation which aims to create opportunities for local people, boost the economy and provide new housing to meet demands.
Midlands based construction company, Speller Metcalfe are carrying out the complete refurbishment of the former Post Office building located on Market Place to bring this transformation to life.
Matthew Bailey, Director at Speller Metcalfe said, “We’re pleased to begin work transforming this former post office into a community focused digital access centre in Bloxwich. Our team are on site working hard to deliver the scheme along with generating a positive impact on the surrounding community.”
The construction project will also have a focus on delivering social value including the employment of local subcontractors, school engagement and charitable donations to ensure the works have a positive impact of the community outside of the refurbishment.
The building has been designed by Robothams Architects and is due for completion in Spring 2025.