Why GPET?
With a proven track record in developing and sustaining local businesses, Greater Pollok Enterprise Trust (GPET) has provided support and development to the local community since 2006. With a diverse and passionate team experienced in business development, we at GPET are here to help you and your business achieve its full potential. Whether you are a social enterprise, an established business or you’re just starting out, we at GPET think we could be just the right fit for you.
Making a difference.
The Wedge has been transformed into a multi-purpose business hub, with business space of varying sizes and layouts. The Wedge represents everything you imagine when you think of a modern business hub, with meeting rooms, breakout spaces, an on-site gym, and the chance to mix with other professionals. The only difference is the price: our rates are fair and designed to help local businesses thrive. In doing so, we are seeing the local community strengthened as we see projects such as SmartGym thrive as well as supporting Pollok Credit Union, a vital financial service for the Greater Pollok area.
Dean Hardie, founder of SmartGym, tells us how, without GPET’s support, his vision could never have become reality.
“Community-based organisations need community-based landlords. It’s that simple. Pollok Credit Union provides the community with vital access to affordable credit and is now the last banking branch in the local area. Our relationship with GPET allows us to continue to serve the people who need our help and helps us to nurture strong connections within the community. The Wedge is great because of how responsive GPET is to any issues we have since they are often on site. We also don’t need to worry about a landlord trying to squeeze as much money out of us or any unexpected fees.”
— Aidan Tyrrell, CEO of Pollok Credit Union
“With GPET’s support, Dove Street Nursery became Southside Daycare - a custom-built nursery accommodating 72 children.”
— Flora, Southside Daycare
Creating a better place to work.
Working in a setting with natural light has been found to offer significant health benefits and boosts productivity. The Wedge’s steep glass exterior walls allow an abundance of natural light to flow through the building, ensuring that each room is bright and upbeat.
Building for the future.
“As a not-for-profit organisation, the vision behind acquiring The Wedge and Museum Business Park was never one of making money or taking advantage of a lucrative commercial property-owning industry - quite the opposite, in fact. We decided to take over these properties and transform them into business hubs with the aim of creating opportunities for economic growth and employment within the local community. When you decide to build these spaces in the community, you’re not just reviving a sense of civic pride or developing the landscape of the area, you’re ensuring there is a literal framework for growth for the people that live here. We have seen that first hand with our tenants SmartGym, Pollok Credit Union, Dula, WeCleanOffices, Aesthetic Suites and more. With our support, they have provided employment opportunities, mental health support and aided in the alleviation of poverty through access to safe and affordable credit and financial advice. It has also ensured that local talent and entrepreneurs have stayed within Pollok. We are immensely proud of what we have achieved so far but know there is a lot of work still to do.”Jim Garrity, operation’s manager of Greater Pollok Enterprise Trust
Community at the heart of what we do.
Through meeting our professional objectives, GPET is committed to enhancing the local community. We outline two charitable objectives we aim to achieve:
Employment
We assist in the relief of unemployment within the community by providing management, mentoring and other support for businesses. One of our aims is to secure employment and training opportunities for unemployed members of the community.
We also provide links to colleges, training providers, schools and other establishments who may assist in developing the skills of the local people and enhancement of the area.
Finally, by providing child care facilities, we enable parents or guardians who would otherwise have difficulty in meeting childcare costs to access and maintain themselves in paid employment.
Urban Regeneration
Our business hubs at The Wedge and Museum Business Park, along with our support to SME’s and social enterprises, will stimulate and boost the local economy and enhance the local area.
We hope to become a new focal point both structurally and professionally, with the development of two local assets which have yet to see their full potential.