PROPERTY
INNOVATION STATION
Replicating the Business Central start-up success story
Positive outlook – Vanessa Wood , centre manager at Business Central in Darlington , says it remained almost fully occupied throughout the pandemic .
Vanessa Wood , centre manager at Business Central in Darlington , tells us how she aims to replicate the success of the site to help launch more start-ups at Innovation Central …
T he first thing you notice when you walk through the doors of Business Central is how homely it feels .
The building ’ s design around a central atrium creates an atmosphere of community and our reception desk at the entrance means there ’ s always a friendly face to welcome you .
That really makes a difference to the start-up businesses that are based here – whether they ’ re a freelancer , or sole trader using our coworking space , or a small company with one of our 60 dedicated offices .
Businesses are run by people and people generally need to be around other people to be happy .
That ’ s been a major takeaway from the pandemic for us . Despite our worst fears about a possible drop in demand for business space , we ’ ve remained almost fully occupied throughout and I think it ’ s
Impressive – Business Central in Darlington is aiming to replicate its successful model with the nearby Innovation Central development ( below ).
that connection to others that ’ s made the difference .
Our tenants found it reassuring and stabilising to be plugged into a community for information and support and even just another friendly human voice .
But we take nothing for granted when it comes to providing the right type of physical environment for our tenants . Since the pandemic we ’ ve carefully considered how people now want to work .
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