ONE of Britain’s top distance learning organisations has chosen Frome as its new headquarters.
The Blackford Centre selected Frome after being based in Wedmore for 20 years.
Kit Sadgrove, the company’s boss said, “We decided the time had come to move to a busier, more creative environment. We looked at Bristol and Bath, and further afield, but decided Frome had the right size and feel for us.”
The business had hoped to move to the centre of Frome but lack of suitable offices has led to it being based in nearby Chantry. Kit added, “The town really needs more commercial space.”
So far the company has hired four members of staff locally, as well as several freelancers.
The Blackford Centre’s courses are sent all over the world. A recent one had to be paddled upriver by canoe in Borneo for the final two miles of its journey.
The company is active in the community, having participated in Frome College’s careers day last month, and it will be at the Discuss and Do event in February. It is a Living Wage employer, and is seeking to take on a local apprentice, to give them cutting edge skills in publishing and Internet marketing.
Kit said, “Frome has a great environment and we’re hoping to engage with local makers in a new course called ‘Making Beautiful Things’.”
Amazon, which features the company’s products, has already expressed an interest in promoting the course.