A major transformation of a former bonded warehouse metres away from Leith’s famous waterfront will create a thriving hub for Edinburgh – and Scotland’s – booming start-up and SME community.
Designed as a flexible workspace and hotdesking location for the city’s fastest-growing businesses, the investment by Clockwise Offices into Clockwise Commercial Quay will deliver 60 office units with a total of 354 desks, across 25,000 sq ft. Those looking for and taking space will be available to choose from three flexible office membership options or traditional leases.
Leith is home to the highest volume of internet-related businesses in Scotland, as well as many well known tech and creative companies – with Skyscanner, FutureX and Seed Haus all based or having originated in the postcode.
Testament to the high-demand for quality space is the number of pre-leases already secured at Clockwise Commercial Quay. Among those signed up are tech firm Orders Made Simple, whose mobile app and management tool helps restaurants and food service operators place orders efficiently with suppliers, as well as orchestral sample library developers Spitfire Audio, which collaborates with Hans Zimmer and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and digitized car rental firm Nuvven.
They will benefit from the area’s food and drink offering including Quay Commons, Michelin-starred The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart and well-known Campervan Brewery’s latest addition, new bar and fermentaria Lost In Leith.
Lesley Anne Jeffrey, Regional Manager at Clockwise, said:
“At Clockwise we have a strong focus on delivering workspaces in vibrant areas that not only have a burgeoning business environment but a strong community that people want to live and work in, and Leith is just that.
“The area has long been on the rise both as a go-to for ambitious business, and creative and tech talent, and also as a neighbourhood with its own identity and spirit. Its unique culture is fuelling entrepreneurial excitement and growth, and we wanted to place Clockwise in the heart of that in Edinburgh.
“Clockwise has a track record of success in other UK cities including Glasgow, Belfast – already catering to booming tech communities – and Liverpool, with a 96 per cent average retention rate across the UK. We certainly expect to build on that success here. Our waterside location, in an area full of renowned food and drink hotspots, and thriving community and arts scene, make Leith an obvious spot to invest in a flexible workspace where businesses can grow, relocate, or open a new city base.”
Situated less than three miles from Edinburgh city centre, the space is easily commutable in around 20 minutes via strong transport links. It will be close to the Edinburgh to Newhaven tram extension, recently earmarked for 2023 completion.
Clockwise Commercial Quay’s mix of club lounge workspaces, co-working desks and private offices is designed to attract a diverse and exciting range of businesses to the space. These will arrive on the back of an influx of businesses to Edinburgh, which was recently placed seventh in the UK in PwC’s Good Growth for Cities report 2019.
Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said:
“This welcome development highlights the important role of Leith as a hub supporting the growth of the creative and tech businesses in Edinburgh, providing much needed space for our exciting start-ups.”
Stephen Scurr, Founder and CEO of Orders Made Simple, said:
“Leith is an exciting, up and coming area and we wanted to become a part of its story. As a fast-growing tech business we needed a flexible space that could cater for our continued development, at the same time as being a fun and dynamic environment for our team. This is what Clockwise is delivering in the heart of the area and we can’t wait to move into the space and get involved in what will no doubt be a great community.”
Edinburgh-based architects Morgan McDonnell is leading on the design and delivery of the development.