A flexible workspace in Stockport has officially opened its doors.
Merseyway Innovation Centre will provide strategic coaching and growth innovation support to occupiers, alongside a calendar of networking events and workshops for the centre鈥檚 community.
The facility will be led by innovation director Naomi Timperley and centre manager Rob Kates and will offer flexible accommodation from co-working space, to shared offices and individual units from 100 sq ft up to 570 sq ft plus a 1,000 sq ft business lounge.
To mark the official launch, the centre opened its doors to representatives of the business community.
Steve Oliver, CEO of musicMagpie and chair of Stockport Economic Alliance, said:聽鈥淢erseyway Innovation Centre has been a big-ticket item in the Stockport Economic Plans, and to see it completed is brilliant 鈥� this is an incredible environment.
鈥淥ne of our key priorities is making space available for offices where new and growing businesses can thrive. As such, the centre will be vital to the vibrant and diverse economy we have across the borough.
鈥淲ith flexible terms and wrap-around support, the Merseyway Innovation Centre will provide its community with the mechanisms and tools for a more secure future.
鈥淎ny business using this space has the potential to become a national organisation grown out of Stockport. We firmly believe huge oaks will grow from the acorns that are planted here.鈥�
One of the first companies to move into the innovation centre was New Possible, which uses artificial intelligence and people insights to help business leaders to boost engagement and productivity from their employees.
Coun Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, said:聽鈥淢erseyway Innovation Centre is the latest example of the ambition we have to invest in our borough, and to bring best in class facilities to our businesses and residents.鈥�
Jo Stevens, managing director of Oxford Innovation Space 鈥� which manages聽Merseyway Innovation Centre on behalf聽of Stockport Council 鈥撀爏aid:聽鈥淭here is huge interest in spaces like this up and down the country.
鈥淚nnovation spaces are about more than the walls and the square footage that聽businesses聽occupy. It鈥檚 about the community you build in the space, the businesses that learn from one another,聽the support we provide聽and the other experts that we bring in. These things make a difference.鈥�
Merseyway Innovation Centre has been made possible through funding from the EU鈥檚 European Regional Development Fund (via Northern Powerhouse), Stockport Council and from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport鈥檚 Cultural Development Fund managed by Arts Council England.
Oxford Innovation Space is the UK鈥檚 leading operator of innovation centres, with 31 managed centres in the UK.