A recently transformed building which has helped bring jobs back into the town centre has been hailed as Kilmarnock’s ‘best-kept secret’ by the Leader of East Ayrshire Council.
Councillor Douglas Reid praised the impact of Corespace as an important regeneration initiative when he met its new owner, local businessman and property developer Hugh Mulgrew, on a visit earlier this week.
The long-vacant property on Portland Street has been overhauled, transforming it into modern serviced office accommodation which opened last year. The enterprise hub is now home to 11 businesses, collectively employing about 100 people, with businesses ranging from local enterprises and national organisations to charities.
Councillor Reid visited the site, along with the Provost of East Ayrshire Claire Leitch, as part of Scotland Loves Local Week.
Mr Mulgrew briefed them on the work that he has undertaken to repurpose the building to meet the demand for office space in the town, as well as introducing them to businesses based there, including growing business processing firm Cadence and Barclays Eagle Labs.
The discussions chimed perfectly with the Scotland Loves Local Week theme of People Make Places, highlighting the people-led innovation which is key to revitalising town centres across the country.
Councillor Douglas Reid said: “This visit proves that the regeneration of our town centres is about more than just restoring older buildings – it’s about the people who use them, and the opportunities and optimism created when we find new purposes for tired premises.
“Corespace has to be Kilmarnock’s best kept secret. It’s been a true inspiration to meet Hugh Mulgrew, his team and representatives from some of the companies and third sector organisations which have found a home in his buildings.
“It was also good to hear how collaborative working with our Council services such as Planning, Business Support and Employability have helped support Hugh and his tenants to grow and develop their footholds in the town. We’ve always known that the best way to achieve sustainable success for the future is to invest time, energy and resources into working with partner organisations to bring projects such as these to fruition. This is a prime example of how working this way can help build Community Wealth and improve wellbeing for all who live and work here.”
Mr Mulgrew has been praised by those he is working alongside for his tenant-focused approach to helping boost business in the region, supporting community wealth building, wellbeing and sustainability ambitions.
As well as bringing the Portland Street building back to life, Mr. Mulgrew has recently purchased the former Civic Centre North building on John Dickie Street, supporting local charity EACHa (East Ayrshire Churches’ Homelessness action) to create a new base and community hub – Recovery Matters.
Provost Leitch was shown around the new Recovery Hub, learning about how it supports people, as well as hearing about plans to open a new cafe as a social enterprise, supporting ongoing work to ensure the building is used to its full potential.
Provost Claire Leitch agreed: “Whilst many of us may think that high streets are all about shops – in fact it’s a revelation to know that behind closed doors and upstairs in so many of our high street buildings there are hundreds of people working in all sorts of ways, contributing to the local economy, helping those in need and bringing welcome footfall to the town centre.
“I’ve long been a supporter of the East Ayrshire Recovery Hub and it’s been great to see them build on their success in their previous premises. They’d outgrown that space and with Hugh’s help and foresight, they’re now blossoming and able to achieve so much more to help people on their recovery journeys.
“It’s been refreshing to meet such committed individuals in both Corespace and Civic Centre North all pulling together for the benefit of the whole community, and we know that there will be far more to come in future. I’m proud that our Council has been a vital part of a wider collaboration which is helping make a real difference, together we can all achieve so much more.”
Mr Mulgrew has also acquired another vacant town centre site, known locally as the ‘White Tile Building’ on King Street, which he is in the process of refurbishing. Building work on this venue is yet to be completed, but it has already been secured by an aspiring entrepreneur.
Speaking about the future of town centres and the importance of having a strong mix of uses to support retail Mr Mulgrew said: “We’re keen to develop services that will drive people back into the town, which includes our office spaces.
“Those 100 people who work at Corespace in Kilmarnock on any given day are all spending money in the town centre. That’s why it’s important to have facilities like this, that are of good quality and are central.”
Scotland Loves Local Week is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) to highlight its campaign for people to build stronger, more sustainable futures for their community by supporting the businesses in their area, potentially adding millions of pounds into regional economies.
Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Chief Officer, said: “The transformation of Corespace is a fantastic example of the impact of innovation and investment in our town centres. It’s not just a repurposed prime site – it has brought more people back into the town centre to work, creating a positive knock-on impact for other local businesses.
“Projects like this have an increasingly important part to play in our town centres of the future.”
As part of Scotland Loves Local Week, STP also released statistics showing that if each person in East Ayrshire spent just £1-a-week more with local businesses, it would generate a £6.2m-a-year boost for the region’s economy.
Scotland Loves Local is supported by the Scottish Government.
