Tees Business Tees Business Issue 21 | Page 33

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