It has been announced that the new £12m iHub on Infinity Park is to join the rapidly expanding Connect Derby portfolio of managed workspaces.
The iHub is an innovation centre at the heart of Infinity Park, a new 100-acre manufacturing focused commercial and technology site with Enterprise Zone status. Infinity Park is situated between Sinfin and Chellaston to the south side of the city and next to the World Headquarters of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace.
The 45,000 sq ft facility, which is currently in its operational set-up phase, aims to nurture the development and growth of businesses in the transport engineering and hi-tech sectors. It provides flexible workspace for start-ups, early stage businesses and established high growth SMEs hoping to establish themselves, or expand their role in the aerospace, rail and automotive supply chains.
Accommodation includes 18 offices, ranging in size from 127 sq ft to 970 sq ft and 14 state-of-the art workshops from 375 sq ft to 4,451 sq ft.
The iHub boasts leading edge technology, including a ‘FabLab’ facility for the rapid prototyping of a range of products and services, high end virtually reality, 3D printing and surface microscope equipment. It also includes a multi-purpose ‘heart space’, which is ideal for holding conferences and events and a café/bar operator.
The building will be fully open in July and leases are currently being prepared for five local and regional businesses, looking to establish a base at the iHub and take advantage of the numerous opportunities available to support growth.
The iHub will build on the success of the hugely successful Connect Derby scheme, which has created a strong market for a mixed use and sector specific serviced offices across the city at its six other buildings across the city – Friar Gate Studios, Sadler Bridge Studios, Riverside Chambers, Marble Hall, Kings Chambers and Shot Tower.
Businesses based at the iHub will benefit from the usual range of services offered by Connect Derby, including superfast broadband. In addition, tenants will be eligible to a range of support from ENSCITE, a collaboration between Aston and Derby Universities and the City Council.
Commenting on imminent opening of the iHub, Martin Rawson, cabinet member for regeneration at Derby City Council, said:
“The iHub is the flagship development on Infinity Park and we are delighted with the level of interest shown by high profile regional companies since marketing started in earnest in March.
“The addition of the iHub to the Connect Derby portfolio will ensure that it also offers a supportive and collaborative environment to enable businesses to innovate, grow and develop.
“It will meet the needs of the region’s emerging hi-tech transport engineering firms, further reinforcing Derby’s reputation as a centre of innovation.”
Ann Bhatti, Connect Derby manager, added:
“Since it was launched in 2014, Connect Derby has been hugely successful in encouraging business growth in the city and we’re delighted that the iHub is now part of the Connect Derby portfolio.
“Weekly tours of the facility are currently being staged for potential tenants and we’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction to the building and its range of services and facilities.
“We’re very excited about the official opening of the iHub in July and anticipate the building will have a significant number of lettings by then.”
The iHub has received funding by the Regional Growth Fund and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as well as Derby City Council and the University of Derby.
