Derby’s city centre primary managed workspaces are set to come together as part of an exciting new initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.
Connect Derby will see Derby City Council’s workspaces – Friar Gate Studios, Kings Chambers, the new Sadler Bridge Studios, Shot Tower and the former Magistrate’s Court come together under one banner in a £14.2m project to create jobs for local people.
The scheme will provide micro businesses, entrepreneurs and SME’s with the high specification working environment, IT infrastructure and business support they need to improve business survival rates and act as a catalyst for expansion and growth. It is also hoped that the project will create further jobs by increasing inward investment to the city.
£7.3 million of the capital funding for the scheme has been secured through external grants from the European Regional Development Fund, with the remainder coming from The Derby City Council Regeneration Fund.
Each centre will have a unique offering for anyone considering self-employment or starting a new business or an existing business already operating inside or outside the city.
A range of high-quality, flexible workspace will be available in Derby city centre, ranging from conventional office units to areas with hot-desks, informal workspace for virtual tenancies and hourly rental.
What makes the Connect scheme unique, however, is its co-ordinated centre management and business support structure, which will ensure all the buildings are ‘connected and its tenants are able to benefit from a planned pathway of growth and development.
Businesses based in any of the Connect buildings will receive a package of targeted help and support, especially those from disadvantaged communities who may find self-employment daunting. This will include a range of business development and mentoring opportunities and a series of events aimed at sharing skills and encouraging collaboration between businesses.
Following an initial investment of £2,663,842 back in 2007, Friar Gate Studios, which serves the creative sector, has been the subject of an £800,000 refurbishment. It is also the first building in the city to receive super fast 100MB broadband.
A £1.235m upgrade programme has recently commenced at Kings Chambers office suites and shops to provide new and developing businesses with affordable city centre office space on flexible monthly terms. Tenants will benefit from the same infrastructure and support that is available across the Connect Project, including dedicated business support services. The project is set to be completed in summer 2014.
The historic Shot Tower, located on the site of the former Field Sports building, occupies a prime location opposite the Council House and close to the bus station and Riverlights development.
The building, which has been unoccupied for a number of years, will undergo a complete refurbishment at a cost of £1.028m to transform it into a virtual business hub with all the resources needed by start-ups, graduates, SMEs and people considering self-employment.
Facilities will include registered address, bureau/telephony services, meeting rooms, formal and informal workspace, secure bike storage and showers. It will also offer touch-down space for people looking to work in Derby for a few hours. The building is scheduled to be completed in autumn 2014.
Construction work is already underway on the exciting Sadler Bridge Studios. The new £4.4m three-storey building is set to be developed on the site of the former Prince’s supermarket at the bottom of Sadler Gate.
The Studios will target the creative sector and are seen as the first step in a creative business’s development, before they move to Friar Gate Studios. They will be ideal for new start-ups, sole traders who may have been working from home and are ready to move to a commercial setting, and graduates from University of Derby, which has a strong creative faculty. The Studios are scheduled for completion by autumn 2014.
The former Magistrate’s Court on Full Street is set to be redeveloped into a stunning office complex as part of a major £4.075m project.
The scheme will create 27,000 sq ft of mixed use office space, as well as a café bar, with a new paved area outside in the restored Derwent Street gardens. It will also feature a dedicated conference venue, which will be open to tenants and non tenants.
The complex will be suitable for established businesses looking for a city centre base with excellent facilities and will also house businesses that have outgrown Kings Chambers. Work is underway, with completion by autumn 2014.
Commenting on the Connect project, Paul Bayliss, leader of Derby City Council, said:
“The Connect project is actively supporting the City’s jobs agenda. We are nurturing new start-up businesses by creating small managed offices to incubate new businesses and help them grow.”
Adam Wilkinson, chief executive of Derby City Council added:
“The Connect project will support new enterprise by creating an environment where they can grow, thrive and sustain themselves.
“It is set to generate jobs across the city, particularly amongst those disadvantaged communities who may have found a barrier to self employment in the past. It will also provide existing SME’s with a wider skill set to employ, which is a very is positive move for the city as a whole.”
Ann Bhatti, Connect business centre manager, said:
“To our knowledge, no other local authority scheme offers such a high level of economic regeneration and job creation, backed by developmental support and digital communication.
The refurbishment of Friar Gate Studios has now been completed, with all the other buildings set to come on stream by autumn 2014.
