Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Tuesday 23rd January, 2001) officially opened the £6.8 million Guinness Enterprise Centre located at Taylor’s Lane, Dublin 8. The centre provides accommodation in Dublin’s Inner City for new and existing entrepreneurs in small and start up businesses.

The premises (6,000m sq.) is one of the largest enterprise centres in Ireland and was completed with the assistance of private, public community and state investors.

The Tánaiste said "I am very happy to see this type of private/public sector co-operation in such a vital area as enterprise encouragement and job creation. There are currently 210 people working in new businesses located in the Guinness Enterprise Centre. I congratulate Guinness and the other partners involved in this initiative. It is a concrete example of the benefit of public, private partnership which I hope can continue to be replicated elsewhere."

The Tánaiste said that 60 out of the 77 incubator units are currently occupied. "I have no doubt that the remaining units will be filled very quickly. It is very encouraging that six businesses which started life in the Centre have outgrown the facilities they occupied and have graduated to their own premises. This is testament to the success of the Centre and the quality of the businesses concerned", she said.

Businesses in the centre include software and service orientated firms, small-scale manufacturing and light high tech engineering services.

Welcoming the development the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman Maurice Ahern said "There are great plans for the future of this area which forms part of the Liberties/Coombe Integrated Area Plan. Developments in the area, such as the Guinness Storehouse, the restored St. Catherine’s Church, the proposed Media Lab and this fine Enterprise Centre point to a new era in the social, economic, physical and cultural development of this area."

Mr Clive Brownlee, Managing Director Guinness Ireland Group said "Guinness is particularly pleased to be associated with this new centre - not only because it addresses the task of job creation but because it illustrates what can be achieved by a partnership approach to issues of common concern."

The partners in the project are:-

Guinness Ireland Group - provided the hop store and site itself, and finance towards its refurbishment, for a total contribution of £2,537,000.

Dublin Corporation - provided finance and the design, architectural, quantity surveying and tendering skills relating to the building innovation to a total value of £1,096,000.

Dublin Business Innovation Centre - contributed finance and expertise to the value of £880,000 and will manage the centre for the company.

Dublin City Enterprise Board - contributed £598,000.

Enterprise Ireland - contributed £750,000 as well as key marketing, technology, enterprise development and business training advice.

Guinness Workers Employment Fund - founded by Guinness workers in 1958 to help create jobs and which celebrated its 40th year in existence by contributing £150,000 to the project.

About the Centre

• The Guinness Enterprise Centre is a £6.8 million project, which provides accommodation for small business as a base for their first critical years.
• The centre is located at Taylor’s Lane, at the rear of the St. James’s Gate site, with separate access from the brewery.
• The project involved the conversion of former Hopstore no.5 and the adjoining kiln house.
• The premises have an overall size of 6,000 square metres on three floors, making it one of the largest enterprise centres in Ireland.
• The Centre comprises 77 separate units, providing premises and support for new and existing entrepreneurs.
• Conference, administration and canteen facilities are also available.

Contacts Guinness Ireland Group Pat Barry 4536700 Enterprise Ireland Pascal McGuire 8082308 Dublin Business Innovation Centre Des Fahey 6713111