A NEW “innovation warehouse” could be opened as part of a £2million plan to improve business skills.

Basildon Council has pledged to match funding for a centre specialising in science, technology, engineering and mathematics - Stem.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership has bid to convert the Green Centre to the south of the A13 into a warehouse full of specialist equipment, and with Basildon Council providing support the bid is more likely to succeed.

Basildon Council committed £2million from its capital budget to develop business opportunities and create jobs in the area.

Tory council leader Andrew Baggott believes the new centre would help maintain the borough’s entrepreneurial reputation.

He said: “The innovation warehouse would have lots of Stem equipment installed, meaning the centre will act as a place where businesses could come in and do brainstorming with other businesses in a way to drive creativity and ideas.

“We’re already putting £100,000 in support of local businesses, but the new innovation warehouse will really emphasise that Basildon is a place where entrepreneurs come from.

“We want to be able to attract businesses to Basildon as a place where they can develop ideas, and for that they need a good place to drive their ideas and create more jobs.”

Selep previously helped fund an innovation centre at the University of Essex’s Colchester campus in October 2017, which saw £13million invested creating an additional 423 new jobs for the area.

Stuart Sullivan, chairman of the council’s corporate resources committee, said: “The new innovation warehouse in Pitsea will be dedicated to providing facilities for new start-ups, for entrepreneurs, for Stem type businesses.

“It will promote enterprise and increase skills. This facility will create support and networking opportunities for those in the start-up and pre-start-up phases.

“This initiative has significant supporters including Ford, New Holland, Essex Chamber of Commerce and South Essex College.”