Great Yarmouth's new one-stop-shop for enterprise was this week described as a “three-year overnight miracle” as business leaders gathered to celebrate its formal opening.

Great Yarmouth's new one-stop-shop for enterprise was this week described as a “three-year overnight miracle” as business leaders gathered to celebrate its formal opening.

The Novus Centre in The Conge, the former Futters furniture store, has been fully reupholstered as offices and training rooms for enterpriseGY, Legi (Local Enterprise Growth Initiative) and NWES (Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Services).

For retiring Legi chairman Chris Hacon, who grew up a stone's throw from the building, it is a chance to “go out on a high” after first hatching the idea three years ago.

He said a town centre “hub” for the various business “spokes” has been at the top of a wish list and a great achievement that would boost the economy.

“It's a three-year overnight miracle. The sub committee of the economic forum took up the challenge to work up this bid. We had a long wish list that was left over from other projects and Legi has solved that. This was the main one - to have somewhere in a town centre location for all the agencies to help people get on the ladder.

“You can love or hate its design but it is the function of the building that is important. It will help lift the business activity in the town and it is a wonderful time for it to open as the outer harbor develops, the seafront has been refurbished and the heritage quarter is starting to mean something.”

Programme manager Richard Percy said having a modern physical presence in the town would make all the difference to Legi which had been awarded £12m to run until 2011.

Officially opening the 2600ft centre Mayor Terry Easter said the centre would help seal Yarmouth's status as “the enterprise capital of the East,” adding: “People can walk in the door with a question or need and walk out with a solution.”

At the opening Liquorice Allsorts were served alongside more traditional canapés in a lighthearted swipe at the building's nickname - coined by councillor Mark Thompson, proving that although they were serious about business advisors could see the funny side too.

To find out more about enterpriseGY, visit www.enterpriseGY.co.uk or call 0800 458 0146.