The Core, central Newcastle’s dynamic small to medium size enterprise (SME) office space and research-led innovation cluster, has hit 100 percent occupancy.
As the flagship workspace on the 24-acre Newcastle Helix science and tech development, The Core was the first Newcastle Helix building to open its doors in 2014. Now one of a number of specialist workspaces located in this landmark city centre quarter, it is joined by the Biosphere, which opened in November 2019, The Catalyst, due to open soon, and the Lumen which will open in early 2020.
Creative Space Management, the managing and letting agent for The Core, announced The Core’s 100 percent occupancy following the growth of a number of businesses, who have successfully expanded into larger offices, freeing up space for their newest occupier; a growing software and IT solutions company.
The Core, which offers 29,000 sq ft of flexible office and event space, is home to 26 SMEs located over seven floors; all working within the themes of future city challenges and digitally enabled sustainability. Situated close to the University of Newcastle’s Urban Sciences building and hosting University teams on their first floor collaboration space, The Core plays a critical role in Newcastle’s science and tech ecosystem; supporting businesses and academics to connect, collaborate and innovate. Through flexible workspace and office leases, The Core works directly with ambitious businesses looking to expand out into the wider Newcastle Helix development, which has been designed to bring together industry leaders, businesses and top researchers in a new innovation community right in the centre of Newcastle.
The Core Centre Manager, Amelia Findlay, said: “This is an exciting time for The Core. At 100 percent occupied and with a strong waiting list of businesses looking to secure a workspace and connect with this innovative community, we are thrilled to be supporting a number of our larger occupiers with their onward journeys to the Catalyst, Biosphere and Lumen buildings.”
Amelia added, “Hitting 100 percent occupancy is a real achievement but that’s not the end of the story. We support a number of smaller niche businesses who benefit from the great market connections we facilitate. We also support high growth SMEs to expand through flexible workspace and business-to-business, research and academic collaborations. In essence, we act as a feeder to the rest of the Newcastle Helix site for these high growth SMEs. As more buildings across the Newcastle Helix site open their doors, the opportunities to do this are growing. This is great news for Newcastle Helix, the wider city and the North East.”
The Core opened its doors in November 2014, introducing Newcastle Helix (a partnership development between Newcastle University, Newcastle City Council and Legal & General, benefiting from the European Regional Development Fund), as a new quarter of Newcastle’s city centre. Now full of innovation businesses working on a range of future city themes, The Core has been joined by several new buildings of national significance.
Newcastle Helix Marketing Manager Tom Bramald said: “We’re delighted for the team at The Core to reach a 100% occupancy level. The Core is a key part of the Helix ecosystem of innovation and collaboration. We’re bringing more commercial spaces to the market in The Lumen, The Spark, The Biosphere and The Catalyst so it’s fantastic to know that demand for space at Helix is high.”
The Core is a special place for research and for business growth. As well as providing serviced office space, adaptable to the needs of a growing business, The Core offers two meeting rooms, free for occupiers, and a networking and event space which plays a central role in animating the wider Newcastle Helix quarter, by hosting regular meet-ups for local businesses, community and University groups.