Burnley鈥檚 digital economy is set to receive a massive boost after Mark Crabtree OBE announced ambitious plans to transform the iconic former Burnley Grammar school into a thriving, hi-tech聽hub for digital SMEs and micro-businesses.
Crabtree is best known as the Oscar-winning man who, with his Burnley-headquartered company AMS Neve, conquered the world in digital sound engineering.
A former pupil of Burnley Grammar, he is聽investing a seven figure sum into creating a unique collaborative workspace for digital start-ups, SMEs and allied businesses.
The Landmark Burnley is set to open its doors to the first wave of digital businesses in September, with impressive plans that will see the historic grade 2 listed former grammar school become the show piece of Burnley鈥檚 thriving tech economy.
鈥淭he Landmark project is a way to help Burnley grow its digital skills base and for that not to 鈥榣eak鈥� out to say, Manchester, but keep the talent and skill in Burnley,鈥� said Crabtree.
鈥淚n the past, people starting businesses used to need money to buy machinery, hence the grants process.
鈥淣ow they need a laptop, an idea and somewhere other than their kitchen table to work.聽But the point is they want to work with like minds and have social gathering spaces to encourage each along.”
The Landmark will also have allied businesses in situ, a small presence of lawyers and accountants in a move that means those professions will be on hand to assist the young companies grow and flourish.
Crabtree鈥檚 partner in running the operation of the Landmark space is David Walker, managing director and founder of digital marketing company +24Marketing.
鈥淚 could see there were many digital businesses 鈥榰nder the radar鈥� in the Borough and together with the Council regeneration team we got together 20 of the 60 businesses we identified and asked what they needed in order to grow and stay in the town,鈥� said Crabtree.
鈥淭op of the list was their desire to work next to each other and share knowledge, making connections.
鈥淭he bigger the pool, the more successful the companies.聽 We are working to link with Rob Binns鈥� successful private venture Cotton Court in Preston and the publicly and university-funded Landing at Media City in Salford, through a twinning scheme.
鈥淚f you have space in one of these workspaces,聽you can have a desk in any of the others when doing business in the corresponding area.鈥�
Burnley Grammar School dates back to 1559 as an entity and the building which is becoming Landmark Burnley first opened its doors to pupils in the 19th century.
Plans for The Landmark include creating several different 鈥榝lavours鈥� of accommodation, from oak panelled office space to modern, hi-tech, areas with features including a glass atrium linking the old part of the building to the newer areas and a glass lift.
The main hall will become a 鈥榮uper meeting space鈥� due to open as soon as possible.
This will then be used for seminars and other meetings, hosting the likes of global tech giants Google and Microsoft to Burnley.