Open day to be held at historic Atkins Building

The Grade ll building, which was formerly the home of the Atkins hosiery firm, has been given a new lease of life thanks to a £7.5 million redevelopment project, funded by the Borough Council and the East Midlands Development Agency.

It features over 45,000 square feet of mixed use space which has been sympathetically refurbished  and now includes:

• Open plan office space
• Serviced offices
• Studio space, suitable for creative industries
• Gallery area for high quality touring exhibitions
• Café
• Retail space
• Conferencing facilities

The studios, gallery and multi-purpose educational facility are being occupied by Creative Hinckley and will be used for exhibitions, workshops and events.

The creative industries include jewellery makers, photographers, fashion designers, graphic artists, fine artists, and marketing companies.

The serviced offices will house a number of local companies, with incentives offered for new businesses.

The doors will open at 12noon on Tuesday 28 September, when the public gallery, managed by Creative Hinckley, will be displaying De Montfort University’s MA Exhibition.

Other events will include a display by local falconer, Simon Tebbutt, a performance from North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, a children’s craft workshop and a photographic exhibition. Leicester County Council Registrars will be setting up a wedding room, while the studios and offices will be open so that tenants can showcase their wares and services.

Leader of the Borough Council, Councillor Stuart Bray said: “This fantastic renovation has breathed new life into one of Hinckley’s best known buildings and transformed the interior into a space fit for the 21st century.  I would urge anyone to take this opportunity to go along to the open day and see this for themselves.”

For those who are unable to make the open day, tours have been scheduled for 1pm on 29, 30 September and 1 October. Please book ahead as places will be limited.

• For more information call Jenny Bristow or Shaun Curtis on 01455 255742 or email: atkins project@hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk.

ENDS