COULD this be the birthplace of the next great Gloucestershire business success story?

Vantage Point business village in Mitcheldean is the first industrial park in the county to host an enterprise hub where the next generation of entrepreneurs can develop their ideas in a manufacturing environment.

The hub was officially launched by Vantage Point with partners the University of Gloucestershire and the GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Serviced offices in the Carlson Suite at Vantage Point are being made available along with on-site manufacturing expertise.

Vantage Point's head of commerce, Dorian Wragg, said: "We are aiming to create the right industrial environment for start up businesses to flourish as we link up with our partners, the University of Gloucestershire.

"Essentially we are building on the legacy of Rank Xerox and hope to create high-tech manufacturing businesses of the future to help provide jobs and boost the local economy."

Neill Ricketts, a board member of the GFirst LEP and chief executive of Cinderford-based Versarien, said: "It is about removing barriers for new businesses to flourish in the Forest.

"It is low-risk so entrepreneurs will be more likely to come and try their ideas – they won't have to sign a 10- or 15-year lease for premises.

"Companies will be able to progress from hot-desking to full industrial units on the same site, which is something unequalled in the county.

"It would have been great to have this when I was setting up my company."

Dr Basil Omar, the university's enterprise and incubation manager, said: "There will also be a support network for new entrepreneurs.

"Each will have a mentor, an experienced business person to help them."