BUDDING entrepreneurs can now benefit from a new support facility at the Essex campus of Anglia Ruskin University. The university's chancellor, Lord Ashcroft, has officially open the Hot Hatch facility - a new “hot desk” business area in which people starting out on the development of a new enterprise can have working space and dedicated support.

BUDDING entrepreneurs can now benefit from a new support facility at the Essex campus of Anglia Ruskin University.

The university's chancellor, Lord Ashcroft, has officially open the Hot Hatch facility - a new “hot desk” business area in which people starting out on the development of a new enterprise can have working space and dedicated support.

Lord Ashcroft said: “Many of the world's greatest business ideas are devised by university students, who at the time do not have access to mainstream business facilities to launch their innovation to the world. They need practical help and advice which they can now get from this pioneering facility here in Chelmsford.

“I am confident that this new space will be filled with many free-thinking, highly driven students who will want to change the way we do things - with the introduction of new products and services - to make life better in the future.”

Tony West, director of research, development and commercial services, at Anglia Ruskin, added: “We are launching this new facility to promote and support student entrepreneurship.

“Those final year students who can demonstrate a sound business idea will have the opportunity to use this business centre and have support from business specialists from both inside and outside of Anglia Ruskin.

“Users of the Hot Hatch will also benefit from administration support from a dedicated reception facility and have access to meeting and conference spaces appropriate to business use.”

Lord Ashcroft is one of Anglia Ruskin's successful alumni - He studied at one of its predecessor institutions, Mid-Essex Technical College in Chelmsford, before embarking on his highly successful international business career - and has supported the development of its two business school buildings, at Essex and Cambridge.