A GROUND-breaking hi-tech business centre in the heart of rural Suffolk has celebrated its fifth birthday.

A GROUND-breaking hi-tech business centre in the heart of rural Suffolk has celebrated its fifth birthday.

Framlingham Technology Centre was designed and built in 2001 and was the first Innovation Centre in Suffolk.

Despite its rural location, tenants see the centre very much as part of the Cambridge-Ipswich Hi-Tech Corridor phenomenon.

The centre houses 26 suites to accommodate businesses of different sizes, and has a sophisticated computer network facilities, digital telephone system and reception services. It also has a state-of-the-art presentation theatre with video conferencing, and professional boardroom and other meeting rooms.

The meeting rooms are available to any business for hire, and the centre is used regularly for general meetings, product launches, interviews and training.

Visitors have the option of using the in-house café area and using the full catering service on request.

Tony Stockman, the centre chairman, said he identified a need for it back in 1997 when he researched the level of appropriate premises which existed for small and growing technology-dependent businesses.

“There seemed to be little availability of suitable premises,” he said.

“The solution was an impressive centre based upon sharing the costs of facilities not normally available to small businesses and thus offering cost-effective premises to help incubate and grow.

“Our success to date has been excellent and we have created a multi-skilled centre, home to many experts, all specialists in their own field.

“Tenant feedback admits that the centre has helped their businesses and offers full praise of the centre and the team within it.”