NWES Property Services Limited, the region's top business incubator specialist, has been awarded a three-year contract by Suffolk County Council to be the Management Operator Company for OrbisEnergy, the iconic offshore renewables centre based at Ness Point in Lowestoft.

NWES Property Services Limited, the region's top business incubator specialist, has been awarded a three-year contract by Suffolk County Council to be the Management Operator Company for OrbisEnergy, the iconic offshore renewables centre based at Ness Point in Lowestoft.

The contract begins today and was awarded to NWES against national and international competition.

OrbisEnergy, owned by Suffolk County Council, is currently under construction and will be completed ready for the first tenants by September 1.

It is being built to spearhead the region's fast growing renewable offshore energy sector and will deliver flexible office, boardroom and conferencing facilities for more than 30 small and medium-sized companies involved in the rapidly expanding sector.

With 26 years experience in providing business support services, the NWES incubation model will focus upon crafting an environment that will help create and sustain progressive companies, ultimately boosting the local economy. NWES' role in OrbisEnergy will be multi-faceted and will include management of the centre, tenant support services - such as business advice and mentoring, business development and acceleration, co-ordination of the prestigious conference and exhibition facilities and virtual office management.

NWES will also work closely with both Renewables East and East of England Energy Group to assist in the marketing of the centre and the development of the Lowestoft supply chain for the offshore renewables sector.

John Balch, head of property at NWES, said: “We are delighted with the award of the OrbisEnergy Management Operator Contract from Suffolk County Council. This award is significant to us and we are very proud to be associated with OrbisEnergy.

“Our vision is for the centre to be a thriving and high profile Innovation Centre and the hub for an increasing level of outreach activities in the offshore renewables energy sector. OrbisEnergy will be an exciting place to do business and we look forward to welcoming and supporting future tenants and patrons of the centre”.

Neil McManus, OrbisEnergy project manager for Suffolk County Council, said: “We are extremely pleased to appoint NWES as the management operator for OrbisEnergy. NWES have considerable experience and a long established track record in successfully managing business centres.

“The combination of the rapidly emerging offshore renewables market, a state of the art building and the NWES experience in incubating developing businesses should prove a winning formula for OrbisEnergy, Lowestoft and the region.”

OrbisEnergy is owned by Suffolk County Council and the key partners in the project include, East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Go-East (EU Objective 2), Waveney District Council and Renewables East.