Member Article

Collaborative workings space opens to North East businesses

Ambitious businesses from across the North East will soon have access to a unique facility designed to encourage collaborative working and business growth, when the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) opens a new co-working hub next month.

The Open Space, which will be located at the BIC in Sunderland, will provide access to workstations, business mentors, private meeting spaces and business information systems for small business owners who currently work from home and require occasional access to space.

The 2,400 sq ft facility, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme 2007-13, has been designed and constructed by Wearside based commercial interiors specialists, The CLA Group, who were contracted to create a welcoming and nurturing environment for businesses with high growth potential, from a wide range of sectors.

Key features of The Open Space include its secure IT network, a range of telecoms options which will allow members to connect to landlines or laptops and access to business information and experts who will be delivering a wide range of seminars from the facility. In addition the facility also benefits from free parking and access to major road networks, making it the ideal location to meet clients.

Craig Eldred, director at The CLA Group, said: “We’ve been delighted to work with the BIC on The Open Space project. CLA specialises in creating office environments that are both welcoming and which support the needs of the people that work there.

“The brief to create a co-working hub that serves a number of purposes has been challenging, however it has also allowed us to fully showcase our capabilities and we’re delighted with the results.”

An established enterprise agency, the BIC has helped to start 2,000 businesses in the region and helped many more to expand over its 20 year history and is confident that its latest venture will further encourage business growth, by offering flexible and affordable workspace to business people who do not require full-time office space.

David Howell, director of operations at the BIC, said: “The Open Space is designed to encourage business growth and is ideally placed to support those businesses that don’t require permanent facilities but can benefit from access to a professional work setting.

“Co-working can help overcome some of the problems associated with working from home, such as feelings of isolation, by providing an inspiring location in which businesses can network, share ideas and collaborate.

“With access to meeting rooms, quiet spaces and high speed wifi among other facilities as well as business mentoring from our team of experienced advisers, we are confident the facility will provide an environment for successful growth.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section