The Kirkcaldy Book - Community Forums - Domestic bliss - Nice and Easy does it for new Kirkcaldy businesses

Nice and Easy does it for new Kirkcaldy businesses...feom the Fife Free Press.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveils the plaque watched by Tom Stokes, managing director of Evans Easyspace.

By David Blackwood
News Desk

GORDON Brown was back in the Lang Toun on Saturday to officially open a new business centre at John Smith Business Park.
The Prime Minister opened the £3.5m Evans Business Centre, which will offer office space and business accommodation for 55 Kirkcaldy businesses.

The centre, run by Evans Easyspace, offers new and established companies access to office space with flexible leases.

Mr Brown said: "I am delighted to be here today to officially open this new state of the art business centre which will support many hundreds of jobs."

Tom Stokes, managing director of Evans Easyspace, said he was honoured to have Mr Brown officially open the centre.

He added that the new business centre would encourage jobs in the Kirkcaldy area by providing better access to business accommodation for new and growing companies.

He said: "The first companies to move in are all completely different, and once the centre begins to fill up we will have a great diversity of businesses.

"It's great for development, it's great for business, and it's great for the area.

"There are 55 people working in the building already, and there will be around 200 people working there once the centre is full.

"It's about flexibility. I think when we have a recession this is when the centres really come into their own, because if someone starts a company and something goes wrong you can back out of your lease without any financial penalty, but equally if you are successful there's room to expand. That's the real attraction."

He also added another advantage of companies locating at Evans Easyspace is that it provided an excellent place for networking.

The centre is home to a number of local and national businesses, from call centres, a driving school, and a cafe, to Stagecoach's east of Scotland offices.

Councillor Tony Martin, chairman of Fife Council's environment, enterprise and transportation committee, also praised the new centre.

He said: "New and small businesses play a very important role in the economy, and the facility that Evans offer here will help ensure that businesses in Fife can get off to the best possible start."




Cafe's VIP opening day

A KIRKCALDY cafe got a joint honour at the weekend when two of Fife's biggest stars turned up to officially open it.

Not only did the new Green Door Cafe at Evans Easyspace, John Smith Business Park, have an appearance from Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, but former Raith Rovers favourite Marvin Andrews also got in on the action.

Jackie Johnson, director of the Green Door Catering Company, said Mr Brown seemed to be having a good time.

She said: "I think Marvin is one of his favourite footballers.

"It was an excellent day and we were really glad to have Gordon Brown open it. It's quite an exciting time for us."

The Green Door Catering Company is a social enterprise that aims to improve employability through giving catering training and to promote healthy eating.