Digital dream - Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston ( left ) with NorthLink Digital ’ s Graham Orrell at the completed Boho 8 development .
NorthLink Digital first tenants as Boho 8 kicks off digital city vision
FUTURE
Digital boom
Middlesbrough is on the brink of a boom period that will see large-scale growth , investment and job creation around its town centre , says mayor Andy Preston .
As he welcomed the first tenants to the newly completed Boho 8 digital office space , mayor Preston reaffirmed his vision to make Middlesbrough the UK ’ s digital city .
Boho 8 is the latest phase of Middlesbrough ’ s cutting edge Boho campus , the commercial quarter for the town ’ s digital media , digital technology and creative sectors .
On the site of a former car park , the £ 2.3m project provides additional space for companies that are rapidly expanding in the nearby Boho One and Boho 5 .
Designed by Seymour Architecture , the cantilevered buildings are complemented by external communal space .
Welcoming Boho 8 ’ s first tenants , NorthLink Digital , Mr Preston said : “ This development is a small step in a £ 250m investment that will propel Middlesbrough to become the UK ’ s number one digital city .
“ It ’ s fantastic that Boho 8 is ready for its first tenants – fast-growing digital firms creating dozens of high-quality jobs for local people .
“ There ’ s been huge interest in this office space – situated close to the regeneration area that was once the historic heart of our town – and I congratulate NorthLink Digital on their vision and willingness to lead the way .
“ NorthLink Digital is just the sort of expanding company we want to attract and keep in Middlesbrough .
“ Boho 8 is just the start . Work on Boho X – the best office space for 50 miles – will get under way later this year .
“ Soon there will be high-quality , affordable homes , eye-catching offices , a school and even a community farm . Middlesbrough really is a town on the up .
“ It ’ s all about showing the sort of aspiration and ambition that will shape Middlesbrough ’ s future prosperity , as we come out of a hugely challenging 18 months into a new boom period for the town .”
The Boho 8 development has been supported by the Local Growth Fund from the Tees Valley mayor and Combined Authority .
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said : “ NorthLink Digital is a great business that is contributing to our region ’ s impressive and well-respected digital sector and it ’ s fantastic to hear that they ’ ll be the first to relocate to the recently completed Boho 8 .
“ We ’ ve invested in this site to help pave the way so that more creative and cutting-edge digital businesses can call Middlesbrough their home , bringing with them further growth and more well-paid , good-quality jobs for local people .”
An IT consultancy and digital agency ,
NorthLink Digital will now have the space to expand and fulfil its ambitious plans to double its 10-strong team over the next 12 to 18 months after leaving its current home in Boho 5 .
CEO and founder Graham Orrell , who took on his first employee just two years ago , said he was proud to be part of such an exciting project at a pivotal time in Middlesbrough ’ s history .
“ I ’ m really impressed , not just with this development but with the plans everyone in Middlesbrough and Teesside have right now ,” he said . “ It ’ s boom time .
“ We ’ re moving to a more central location for the digital sector , where the action is . We ’ ll have more space , a roof terrace , private kitchen and other amenities . It ’ s a big step up . The team are really looking forward to it .”
NorthLink Digital , whose move to Boho 8 is subject to contract , have a business model which has been dubbed “ Northshoring ”. They offer clients based in London , the South-East and across the UK an alternative to expensive Londonbased agencies or outsourcing the work to offshore locations . The innovative , digital projects are delivered by the team based in Middlesbrough , with Thornaby-born Graham splitting his time between London and Teesside .
Graham is now looking to recruit developers together with project managers , business developers and sales staff .
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