The Wellsprings, an office, meeting room and co-working innovation space in Bolton, has announced Kirsty Humphries as its new centre manager.
With almost two decades’ experience working in gyms – including as a personal trainer, gym manager, and facilities manager – Kirsty will be using her skills in helping people reach their potential to ensure The Wellsprings’ community are successfully growing their businesses.
She’ll be responsible for the day-to-day running of The Wellsprings, and for cementing its reputation as a supportive space for ambitious entrepreneurs and SMEs in and around the town.
The Wellsprings, managed by Oxford Innovation Space, is based in the heart of Bolton town centre and boasts a wealth of high-quality features, including a welcoming business lounge, fully kitted meeting rooms and a relaxing wellness space.
Alongside Kirsty, innovation director Ian Balderson provides strategic growth and innovation support to businesses who use the space. Businesses and members benefit from a calendar of networking events and workshops as well as The Wire, an online community that aims to connect people from across Oxford Innovation Space’s national network of ambitious businesses and entrepreneurs.
In December, The Wellsprings announced it had welcomed its first 10 businesses, including a leadership coaching service, digital marketing agency and commercial graphic design team
Kirsty said: “My career has always been rooted in helping people grow, so stepping into this role feels like a natural evolution of that journey. I’ve always been driven by watching people develop, find confidence and achieve their goals, and The Wellsprings allows me to support that growth in a broader, more impactful way, with the businesses already based here and the many others who could benefit from what we offer.”
One of Kirsty’s previous roles was in a gym based in Bolton town centre, and she’s pleased to have returned to a community she’s always associated with positive partnerships.
She said: “Returning to Bolton feels like coming full circle. I previously ran a gym here that thrived on strong relationships, and I always said I’d love to come back because of that sense of community – and it’s definitely still here. Having an existing network and shared history makes my new role even more meaningful, and it’s been incredibly positive reconnecting with people while building new connections through The Wellsprings.
“Bolton offers a strong mix of talent, affordability and opportunity, supported by good transport links and a growing focus on regeneration, and that really comes to life at The Wellsprings. The centre is a genuinely welcoming place to work – people stop for a cup of tea, businesses support one another, and there’s a real pride in the space. Seeing people thrive in their own offices while also coming together as a community feels refreshing.
“That sense of connection is what excites me most about the future. We’re building an ecosystem where collaboration and shared success happen naturally. The Wellsprings feels
less like a traditional business centre and more like a professional community people are proud to belong to.”
The Wellsprings renovation was backed by £6.9m from the Towns Fund with a further £1.4m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The centre aims to build a collective of creative, collaborative and technology-driven enterprises, and is part of Bolton Council’s wider strategy to drive investment, encourage innovation and create more quality jobs.
Oxford Innovation Space manages The Wellsprings on behalf of Bolton Council.
