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YOUNG people who dream of running their own businesses will be able to make it a reality thanks to a new Southend YMCA project.
The organisation is about to convert the old St John's Stables, in St John's Road, Westcliff, into an eco-hub for start-ups, costing £760,000. The project will deliver five affordable business units, multi-purpose rooms for group work, meeting rooms and conference facilities.
There will be on-site support and access to business networks, which will provide young entrepreneurs with advice and support to help them develop eco-efficient, ethically aware, enterprises.
The project is backed by Southend Council, while money is coming via Europe through the East of England Development Agency and the YMCA.
John Lamb, councillor for enterprise, said: "I think it is a very good idea. We want new businesses coming in, and certainly we want to make sure they are eco-friendly.
"This eco-hub will be helping new businesses to start up and get going. It is a really good initiative we want to support."
Over three years, the project is expected to help 90 small and medium-sized businesses to use the new eco-hub to become more competitive and environmentally friendly.
The project will also create 16 new jobs, including an eco-hub manager to run the site.
Units will be open to those aged 18 to 30, since local research has shown it is particularly difficult for people in this age bracket to start a business.
Syrie Cox, from Southend YMCA, said it would help people who usually wouldn't get the chance. She added: "Although Southend has a high entrepreneurial culture, it has a higher than average failure rate among business start-ups.
"As we support about 500 marginalised young people in the area, we wanted to provide them with the option of starting a business, to help them progress towards independence and contribute to the local community.
"We have the YMCA etc store in Southchurch Road, and we are meeting lots of young people who look like they might be eligible to apply. Our partners at the Prince's Trust and Business Link will be referring people."
A key part of the project is making the building as energy efficient as possible.
Mr Lamb said arts organisation Metal, which has taken over Grade II listed Chalkwell Hall, was a good example of how this can be done. He added: "At Chalkwell Hall, there are energy-efficient methods they put in to make it more sustainable and efficient, so if you can do it there you could do it on a lot of projects."
The building will be renovated using the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. This rates a building's energy performance, and looks at aspects such as transport links, energy, pollution and ecology.
Deborah Allen, project director for the architects Artillery, said it was trying to salvage as much of the current buildings' interiors as possible. She said: "We are going to make garden planters out of the good timber, as well as benches and furniture. All of the doors open out into a courtyard garden, and we will put in bat boxes to make the best of the natural environment."
In addition, the team hopes to get the majority of building materials from local sources, as well as increase the building's insulation. by double glazing the windows and obtaining its energy supply from a 100 percent renewable company.
The facilities will also be made attractive to cyclists, with the inclusion of lockers, showers and bke storage.
The project is expected to be finished by the end of May. Young people interested in starting up a business at the units can contact Southend YMCA on 01702 301301.