CENTRE OF
Welcoming – Firstsource team leader Dan Middlebrook and director of operations Lisa Corcoran greet new colleagues .
A-plus – Six Centre Square ’ s Grade A office space is bringing new , high-quality businesses to the heart of Middlesbrough .
86 | Tees Business
ATTRACTION
How Grade A office development is turning the tide for Teesside
T he Centre Square office development ’ s pivotal role in the continuing regeneration of Middlesbrough has been underlined in a major new study .
In October , the influential research and policy institute Centre for Cities published “ Making Places – the role of regeneration in levelling up ”. The report concluded : “ Our cities are the engine room of our nation ’ s growth and helping them fire on all cylinders would go a long way to creating both a fairer nation and a more resilient economy .”
But six years ago , Middlesbrough was not firing on all cylinders .
It did , though , feature some of the vital elements which – according to Centre for Cities – contribute towards a vibrant local economy . It had , for example , a large population and ready availability of workers . It also had access to knowledge , ideas and innovation through the presence of Teesside University and Middlesbrough College .
However – crucially – it lacked the critical mass of knowledge-intensive businesses that drive a local economy . A key reason for this was a lack of the Grade A office space , which provides the quality working environment they need to attract and retain staff .
Companies had moved out , while others looking to relocate to the Tees Valley rejected Middlesbrough for the same reason and chose out-of-town business parks instead .
The first phase of the Centre Square project – launched by developer Ashall Projects in partnership with