N E WS
UKSE team members in the new look Innovation
Centre at Redcar (from left) Sue Kirk, senior
administrator; area manager Sarah Thorpe;
business development manager Peter Taylor and
administrator Diane Parker.
CENTRE
STAGE
B
usinesses at one of Teesside’s
most prestigious centres are
enjoying a new look as well as
additional facilities from smaller
units and hot-desking to improved wireless
connectivity following a £500,000
investment by UKSE.
The Innovation Centre on Kirkleatham
Business Park at Redcar was the first
purpose-built centre to be developed
in the region by UKSE, the Tata Steel
regeneration subsidiary, and was followed
by a second centre at Hartlepool with both
soon extended to meet growing demand.
The centres are now home to more
than 100 young and growing businesses
working in a wide range of sectors from
fleet management, finance, data software,
engineering and health to architecture,
printing, construction, energy, recruitment,
confectionary and sport.
UKSE, which also provides investments
of up to £1m to growing businesses in its
steel areas and has invested £22.5m in
tailored loan and equity finance packages
into the Northern region, has now spent
nearly £13m on its two Innovation Centres.
This latest half-million pound project
at Redcar has transformed the centre’s
main reception area, a number of offices,
kitchens, gym changing facilities and
showers as well as the smaller reception
area, kitchen and lounge in the Hub 2
building.
“It has been a significant project, from
design and planning to the construction
work,” said UKSE area manager Sarah
Thorpe.
“We wanted to create some smaller
units and can now offer tenants more
spaces in the 150 sq ft to 380 sq ft
£500k project gives Tees
innovation hub the ‘wow’ factor
range, in addition to
the current offices
and workshops plus
collaborative working
spaces such as hot-
desking which suit
today’s way of working.
“We have
boosted the internet
connectivity through all
the shared areas and
totally transformed
the communal areas
A new workspace area in UKSE’s Innovation Centre.
including receptions
and kitchens.”
The Innovation
Centres were designed to support
The Innovation Centres were
businesses with flexible, affordable office
designed to support businesses
and workshop space in a variety of sizes.
with flexible, affordable office and
It’s not just about the space because the
workshop space in a variety of sizes.
centres, both set in landscaped grounds
with ample free parking, also provide
“The space and facilities at the centre
the facilities needed to allow tenants to
immediately made a big difference,” he
focus on their core business – from the
said.
experienced UKSE teams who are on hand
“And being part of the business
for any queries and provide a manned
community here is supportive too. The
reception area to well-equipped meeting
centre is looking amazing with all the work
rooms, high speed broadband and digital
that has been done and it is good to see
telecom systems, gyms, 24-hour access
UKSE continuing to invest so significantly
and security.
in improving our workspace.”
Sam Moore, who started his roofing
“We have done everything possible to
business, Samuel Moore Roofing, in 2014,
minimise disruption and tenants have been
moved into UKSE’s Redcar Innovation
very understanding,” added Sarah Thorpe.
Centre in 2017 to house his growing team
“Now the major work has finished,
as he extended operations further across
everyone is already enjoying the benefits
the North-East and met growing demand
and their new surroundings.”
for his services from major construction
companies.
See ukse.co.uk for details of the Innovation Centres or arrange a visit
by calling 01642 777 888 (Redcar) or 01429 239500 (Hartlepool).
The voice of business in the Tees region | 33