Basepoint PLC
17 January 2005


Basepoint plc

Basepoint wins SEEDA Enterprise Gateway contract

Basepoint plc is delighted to announce its appointment as development manager on
a #3m project commissioned by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)
to construct and operate a new Enterprise Gateway building at Denton Island,
Newhaven.

Enterprise Gateways, a joint SEEDA / Business Link initiative, are purpose-built
business centres designed to provide supportive environments for new and growing
companies within the general business community. SEEDA plans to open a further
fourteen across the South East over the next five years. The new building at
Newhaven will be located close to the town centre on brownfield land owned by
Lewes District Council. The site adjoins the existing Denton Island Training
Centre (a previous SEEDA project) and a day nursery.

Lack of suitable premises for smaller companies was identified in the most
recent Sussex Annual Business Survey, published in July 2003, as a significant
constraint for economic growth in the region. East Sussex has a higher than
average proportion of small companies with 86% of the total employing ten people
or less, and with the county suffering from both high employment and poor
economic performance when compared to the rest of the South East this issue is
high on the agenda of the local and regional development bodies.

The Enterprise Gateway forms part of a wider regeneration programme focused on
Newhaven, with a major redevelopment recently completed on the town's West Quay
and the port now hosting two companies providing cross channel ferry services to
Dieppe, France.

Due for completion in the second half of 2005, the new centre will provide in
excess of forty versatile business units in a range of sizes; catering for both
start-ups and more established small businesses.

Notes:

Basepoint plc specialises in the development and operation of Managed Business,
Innovation and Enterprise Centres in Central Southern and the South-East of
England. These centres provide comprehensive accommodation and support
infrastructure packages to new and early stage companies within a supportive and
secure environment. Following the completion of the latest facility at
Bournemouth, Basepoint now has fourteen wholly or part-owned centres currently
operational with a further three at varying stages of development as well as a
number of other locations currently under assessment.
www.basepoint.co.uk

SEEDA is the Government funded agency responsible for the economic and social
development of the South East of England - the driving force of the UK's
economy. Its aim is to create a prosperous, dynamic and inspirational region by
helping businesses compete more effectively, training a highly skilled
workforce, supporting and enabling our communities while safeguarding our
natural resources and cherishing our rich cultural heritage.
www.seeda.co.uk

Contact details;

Phil Stansfield, Director of Projects, Basepoint plc
Tel. 01962 842244

Matt Johnson, Gladstone Public Relations Ltd
Tel. 01962 820358


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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