SUNDERLAND City Council has set out its ambition to unlock the full potential of three of the city’s business centres, working with the North East Business & Innovation Centre (BIC) to attract more businesses, support expansion and create high-quality jobs for local people.
By appointing the BIC to manage Evolve Business Centre, Washington Business Centre and Sunderland Software Centre, the council is looking to build on the contribution the three facilities already make to the city’s economy.
The centres are currently home to approximately 83 businesses supporting 456 jobs, with the partnership focused on attracting new tenants, helping existing businesses to grow and ensuring the buildings fulfil their potential as hubs for enterprise, innovation and employment.
The BIC’s contract as managing agent began in May, following a competitive procurement process, bringing more than three decades of experience in supporting business start-ups, innovation and growth to the centres.
Councillor James Jackson, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Housing and Regeneration, said: “Our ambition is to create an economy where businesses can start, grow and succeed, creating high-quality jobs and opportunities for people across Sunderland.
“Our business centres have an important role to play in that. They’re important assets for the city, providing the space and environment for businesses to establish themselves, innovate and expand. We want to make sure we’re maximising their potential, both in terms of attracting businesses into the space available and supporting those businesses to flourish.
“The BIC have an exceptional track record in supporting enterprise and innovation. Their expertise, networks and experience will help us take these centres to the next level, maximising their economic impact in the most cost-effective way.
“Our ambition goes beyond filling buildings. It’s also about what happens within them. We want to see businesses starting up, scaling up, investing and creating jobs for local people, and we’re determined to make sure these centres deliver the greatest possible benefit for Sunderland’s economy.”
Since taking up the contract, the BIC has focused on establishing key administrative and financial processes for the new arrangements, developing plans to increase digital connectivity and optimise the digital offer to businesses as well as upgrading meeting room facilities with initial work carried out to refresh the centres’ marketing.
The improvements are designed to make the buildings more attractive to prospective tenants while enhancing the experience of businesses already based there in the most cost-effective way.
Evolve Business Centre at Rainton Bridge is currently 87 per cent occupied, while Washington Business Centre at Turbine Business Park is 74 per cent occupied. Sunderland Software Centre presents the greatest opportunity to attract additional businesses.
The past year has seen a series of new arrivals and business expansions across the three sites. Technology consultancy Plexus Innovation moved into Evolve in March, while specialist communications agency Ignifi relocated its 25-strong team to Sunderland Software Centre in August. The Software Centre has also welcomed branding agency Mondays Design and Civia Health, which opened its flagship clinical research and community health facility in February. At Washington Business Centre, Hartech Automation has taken on additional space, while STN Power Systems has announced new jobs and launched new business ventures.
Brett Griffiths, chief executive of the North East BIC, said the organisation was confident it could build on the foundations established during its first six months managing the centres. He said: “These are three landmark assets for Sunderland, and our shared ambition with the council is to attract more businesses, help existing tenants grow and make these centres places where businesses really thrive.”
The BIC is developing plans to raise the profile of the centres, promote their flexible workspace and connect tenants with the wider support available through its established business network. Over the past 32 years, the organisation has helped more than 7,000 people start businesses and supported more than 1,000 companies to innovate and grow.
To find out more about the BIC and the business centres it operates, visit www.ne-bic.co.uk
