Chef Mark Smith who once cooked for the Late Queen Elizabeth has been appointed to run The Hub cafe at The EpiCentre

Len Keenan, a specialist copywriter for the life science industry, has taken a virtual office at The EpiCentre in Haverhill, providing him with a postal business and registered office address together with the use of co-working space when needed.

In the third instalment of the EpiCentre podcast series, the conversation turned to artificial intelligence and what it really means for small and medium sized businesses. After funding and engineering, this discussion focused on AI as a working tool rather than a headline trend. For many SMEs, AI feels both unavoidable and overwhelming. The panel set out to cut through that tension and examine how businesses are actually using it today.

The Epicentre has passed its half-century and is now working with over 50 companies as it celebrates five years since it opened its doors. The growing business community includes a diverse mix of companies reflecting The EpiCentre’s flexible model, designed to support businesses at every stage of their development — from start-ups and entrepreneurs to more established firms

Across the UK, founders are feeling the squeeze. Investors are cautious, politics is volatile and the days of easy capital are firmly behind us. Yet at The EpiCentre in Haverhill, a different story is unfolding, defined not by paralysis but by creativity and persistence.