TURF was being cut by Lord Mayor Coun Charles Hall today on construction of a new £500,000 business centre in Clifton Moor designed to meet the needs of small and budding ventures.

The Evans Business Centre, built by national group Evans Easyspace, will have five workshops and three offices when it opens in Audax Close in September and is expected to generate up to 75 jobs.

Offices will range from 600 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft on short lease serviced terms.

Dave Taylor, marketing director of york-england.com, the new inward investment organisation for York and North Yorkshire, said: "Finding short-term leases is the biggest obstacle for start-ups. They can't sign 15 year leases because either they don't know whether they will be in business next week, or they anticipate expanding to the point of needing new premises quickly. This building will greatly benefit both local businesses and strengthen the case for inward investment, particularly for manufacturing industry."

Updated: 09:46 Friday, May 07, 2004