The property entrepreneur behind the landmark Dundee One office building in Dundee’s burgeoning waterfront area has revealed plans for a bold new Scottish co-working business – Jute & Co.
Set to open in August 2019, the new concept is being developed by Jeremy Dixon for Dundee One’s 9000 sq ft top floor as one of the most modern, flexible and advanced working spaces in Scotland – with spectacular views over the River Tay.
Situated in a prime waterfront position next door to the new Dundee V&A, Jute & Co has been created in response to the latest research into how people want to work in the modern world – with demand for flexible co-working space trebling globally in the last decade to 8 per cent of the office rental market (Savills 2019).
The new business will offer a range of flexible office and co-working packages for businesses of all types and sizes, plus a membership scheme to allow smaller companies and freelancers to use hotdesks, communal spaces and meeting rooms on a more casual basis.
The development represents an investment of £700,000 and is another exciting addition to Dundee’s ambitious £1billion waterfront regeneration project, which is leading the city’s renaissance as one of the UK’s most exciting hubs for enterprise, design and culture.
Good design and worker wellbeing have been a focus, responding to recent research in which nearly 70 per cent of younger workers say they would trade other benefits for a better workspace, and 86 per cent saying a work-life balance was the most important factor in choosing an organisation to work for (Savills 2019).
Saracen Interiors, one of the UK’s most experienced office interiors specialists, has planned, designed and managed the space fit-out of Jute & Co as the main contractor. Leading interior design duo Salvesen Graham have taken inspiration from Dundee’s cultural heritage and the beautiful light-filled setting, adding their stylish, modern and colourful aesthetic to the space, particularly in the break out areas, to bring all the comforts of home to the office.
In addition, an all-day café is planned to serve up healthy, tasty and affordable food, and a number of cycling, health and lifestyle partnerships will be in place to enhance the workplace experience for all tenants.
Additional benefits will include:
- A spectacular 1000 sq feet outdoor terrace overlooking the River Tay.
- Superfast fibre broadband and data transfer.
- Reception, mail and packaging handling, plus high quality printing facilities.
- Member events and classes.
- An excellent energy rating enjoyed by the whole Dundee One building.
- Easy access, located beside the Tay Road Bridge, the new Dundee Railway Station and all City Centre amenities.
- The option to switch to larger leased or managed office space in the Grade A Dundee One building on other floors if required.
Mr Dixon and his team hope Jute & Co will be a relaxing and enjoyable place to work, for all types of businesses. He commented: ‘From start-ups to established companies going for growth, Jute & Co’s focus is on flexibility and a great workplace experience. As more people become self-employed, workforces become more fluid, and the lines between business and leisure time increasingly blur, flexible leases and joining a shared business community are attractive – as are the effects of great design and a positive experience of work in boosting employee productivity.
‘We have developed this new business to allow companies to put down roots and build their business, configuring their office space as they scale – without the constraints of long term leases, expensive overheads, or the hassle of an office move. Using my background in the hospitality industry, I’ve also brought a wealth of insight and ideas to the project to make this a great place to spend the day at work. As neighbours to the new Dundee V&A, we are also very proud of our focus on design and the finished space will be a colourful, creative and inspiring workspace.’
Jute&Co is part of a long term investment in Dundee that is seeing the city flourish as one of the best places to locate a business in Scotland. The UK’s first UNESCO city of design, it boasts academic excellence, enterprise, talent, heritage and culture to rival any city in the UK.
Councillor John Alexander, Leader of Dundee City Council added: ‘This is a tremendous addition to the city’s business landscape and will provide first class accommodation for entrepreneurs and businesses alike. I have no doubt that the demand for this type of offering is there.
‘Dundee has made significant progress over recent years and we are committed to working with business to continue to build upon that success. Dundee is not only a top European destination to visit or the best place to live in Scotland, it’s also positioning itself as a go to destination for talented individuals and businesses and this new addition will certainly add a new string to our bow.’
Co-working spaces are increasingly in demand in cities around the world, driven by accelerated business cycles, the rise in freelance working and the blurring of work and leisure time, plus a demand for greater flexibility to allow businesses greater agility as they grow.