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Northern Powerhouse Minister praises Fusion Hive

02 October 2015

 

The Northern Powerhouse Minister has praised a new business and innovation centre managed by Teesside University, which is headed by Professor Paul Croney.

James Wharton MP officially opened Fusion Hive at Stockton's Northshore, a three storey, 36,000 sq ft business and innovation centre, and saw first-hand the state-of-the-art, high tech facilities it provides for new and growing small and medium enterprises in the digital and scientific sectors.

The impressive building has flexible working spaces for around 60 businesses and is already home to 15 companies – five of which are award winning. Among the businesses based there are digital technology enterprise, skignz, industrial automation and information services firm, Applied Integration and IAMTech Ltd who specialise in the development of innovative technology solutions for the oil, gas, chemical and power industries.

Mr Wharton said: 'This will be a driver for growth and shows what can be delivered with collaboration across sectors.

'Through the companies involved, Teesside University, development fund backing and the local authority, a lot has gone into getting us to this stage and now Fusion Hive will contribute to our future growth and building the Northern Powerhouse.

'I am delighted it is here in Stockton and confident it has many years of success ahead.'

The flexible individual workspaces and collaborative areas help likeminded businesses interact, network and work together.

Managed by The Forge, Teesside University’s business hub, the facility equips tenants with a modern workspace, along with access to the University’s established business networks, expertise and innovation services.

As Northshore is an Enterprise Zone many of the businesses who choose Fusion Hive as their base will also be able to take advantage of up to £55,000 of business rate discount per year for five years.

Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: 'Stockton-on-Tees is fast developing its reputation as an incubator for new, exciting and growing digital, scientific and technology businesses and facilities like this will do much to help these sectors continue to flourish.

'I’ve enjoyed speaking to many of the interesting businesses which are already based here today. I’m sure that with the excellent facilities and business support offered through the University as well as opportunities to collaborate with other like-minded tenants, they will continue to grow over the coming weeks, months and years making a valuable contribution to our Borough’s evolving and growing economy while creating more job opportunities for people living in and around Stockton-on-Tees.'

Vice-Chancellor of Teesside University, Professor Paul Croney, added: 'Teesside University has a fantastic track record for collaborating with business and Fusion Hive will increase the range of services we can offer to companies in the Tees Valley.

'It is already helping many of the region’s most exciting business to grow and fulfil their potential.

'We were delighted to welcome the Minister and introduce him to some of the innovative companies that are helping to grow the region’s economy.

"Teesside University seeks to be a University to support business.

"This about embracing the needs of all kinds of businesses. We want to be a University that helps them and supports their business operations. There couldn't be a better example of this than Fusion Hive as a way of working with business."

Fusion Hive is based on the banks of the River Tees at Northshore where the mixed use regeneration scheme is creating new offices, homes and leisure facilities within walking distance of the newly regenerated Stockton Town Centre.

The 56 acre, £300 million scheme is a partnership between Muse Developments, the Homes and Communities Agency and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and will ultimately provide up to 500,000 sq ft of offices, up to 85,000 sq ft of retail, hotel and leisure space and 126 family houses, all set within a high quality riverside environment.

Esh Build, part of the Esh Group constructed Fusion Hive on land owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), who have invested nearly £3million in the project. This HCA funding has been matched by a similar investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Executive Director of Homes and Communities Agency, Naz Parkar, said: 'This building is a great example of the partnerships that exist in the Tees Valley; we have worked with Stockton Council, the University, our ERDF colleagues and the private sector to help ensure local business thrive.

'Fusion Hive will complement our investments in Boho5 in Middlesbrough and the Business Hub in Darlington where we have also provided the right facilities to support growing businesses in the Tees Valley.'

Joint Managing Director of Muse Developments, Matt Crompton, added: 'It’s great to see so many businesses already seeing the benefits of locating at Northshore and choosing Fusion Hive as their new home. This year we have really seen momentum building, with 80,000 sq ft of offices and 100 new family homes delivered, bringing 400 new jobs into the area and creating a new, thriving riverside community.

'This is a major regeneration success story for Stockton, which Muse is looking to build upon by delivering further high quality office, retail and leisure developments at Northshore.'


Click here for further information about Fusion Hive or call 01642 384400.
 
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