Operator Solution - The Pencil Works, Stapleford

Broxtowe Borough Council (the Contracting Authority) require a supplier to operate The Pencil Works Enterprise Hub, Stapleford. The successful supplier will be required to:

• Manage and operate the facilities
• Drive occupancy and income generation
• Deliver business support, events and community programming
• Create an integrated and active environment across all uses
• Work in partnership with the Council to deliver long-term sustainability

The Pencil Works is a new enterprise hub currently under construction in Stapleford town centre. Broxtowe Borough Council (the Contracting Authority) has secured £6.2 million of funding from the UK Government's Towns Fund to deliver the project. Once complete, the hub will provide office, retail, makerspace, and creative facilities designed to support the growth of the creative, digital, and cultural sectors.

The Pencil Works aims to:

• Increase local skills and opportunities within Stapleford.
• Provide start up and scale up space for creative, digital and cultural enterprises.
• Deliver a central Creative Makers Space for individuals and sole traders to create, collaborate, and sell.
• Offer flexible office, retail, and events spaces for a range of business and community uses.
• Support wider economic regeneration of Stapleford Town Centre.

The Vision:

• Economic catalyst - The hub is designed to create jobs, providing flexible office space, maker spaces for artists, and retail/food units to support entrepreneurs and startups.
• Cultural & Industrial Heritage - Named to honour the town's history (F. Chambers & Co. Ltd pencil factory), the project brings the "spirit of making" back to the town centre.
• Community Integration - It includes a café, event space and a landscaped, accessible public realm designed to enhance the town centre's appearance and increase footfall.
• Wider programme - The project is part of a larger plan to redevelop the town centre, which has also included building a new car park on Derby Road to replace the lost parking space on Victoria Street, plus streetscape improvements, such as the development of Walter Parker Memorial Square.

Construction of the The Pencil Works is due to complete in October 2026. The contract is expected to be for an intiial term of 5years with 3x24month optional extensions.