The latest Growth Hub business support centre, set to open in the Forest of Dean, will establish the area as a 'business bastion'.

The Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council, Tim Gwilliam, describes the Hub as a 'valued resource' and another element in establishing the Forest as a place to do business.

There are already Growth Hubs in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester and Tewkesbury.

The organisation aims to help local businesses in the county develop their ideas and skills and offer meeting and co-working space.

The new centre will be at Vantage Point Business Village in Mitcheldean and is scheduled to open in September.

Tim Gwilliam, Leader of the Forest of Dean District Council, said: "The September opening of the Growth Hub at Vantage Point is the latest stage in the building of a new Forest of Dean business bastion aimed at not only enabling our local entrepreneurs to develop their business here in the district but also to attract businesses from outside the area to relocate here.

"The Growth hub will join the Forest Economic Partnership and the plans for both Five Acres and Cinderford in creating secure foundations for the purest of business needs. It will be a resource that is valued and will link local opportunities with national and even worldwide aspirations."

The Council's Regeneration officers have already been to meet Tom El-Shawk and Freya Lake who will be running the new facility.

The Hub will offer modern, flexible accommodation and meeting spaces to allow Forest businesses to find their first business base.

Businesses will also be able to access free expert business information advice and guidance and join free training sessions that will be offered in this location.

The Growth Hub is focussed on helping all Gloucestershire businesses grow and develop.

At a higher level, the in-house Business Navigators and Business Guides are on-hand to offer bespoke support to businesses that show moderate growth and high growth respectively.

Business support can be accessed remotely via the website, via telephone, or in-person whether at a place of work or at the hub itself.

Tim Gwilliam added: "These secure foundations backed by both GfirstLEP and the local authorities, alongside the homecoming of Versarien, the opening of AccXel, Suntory's continued growth and the plans for the redevelopment of the Lydney Harbour area as well as all our other major and independent businesses, show that the Forest of Dean is now not only welcoming business but that the Forest of Dean is potentially one of the most exciting business platforms in the region, offering a way of life, a workforce and the communities where people want to live want to work and want to play.

"I very much welcome and look forward to the opening of the Growth Hub and I'm very pleased to once again say to anyone that will listen that the Forest of Dean is open for business. A serious business player."

Find out more about the Forest of Dean Hub here.