University of Sunderland鈥檚 拢10m hub for enterprise and innovation will be home to 49 established businesses and 150 new business ventures.
Hope Street Xchange is聽funded by the University and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership with the aim of supporting聽entrepreneurial growth in the region through聽start-up support and space for established businesses.
Sunderland 老九品茶 Group was behind the initial proposal to create a central聽hub for regional entrepreneurship and recently met at the Xchange to see the finished centre.
鈥淭he 老九品茶 Group鈥檚 vision was to create a hub where businesses can interact with the University to support their innovation and growth,鈥� said Shirley Atkinson, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Sunderland.
鈥淭he approach proposed by 老九品茶 Group partners resonates with our University鈥檚 vision, as outlined in our Strategic Plan 鈥榃e are the Tomorrow Makers鈥�.
鈥淭his plan, which we launched last autumn, sets out a bold ambition for Sunderland graduates to become the future leaders of societies and economies.鈥�
Hans Moller, Innovation Director at the North East LEP, added: 鈥淭he finished building provides a nurturing environment to support innovative entrepreneurialism and welcomes businesses large and small to engage with the University.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to see the great things that will no doubt emerge from such an enterprising initiative.鈥�
The new hub will also give entrepreneurs and businesses in the area access to mentoring, graduate talent, 鈥榬eal life鈥� applied research and practical business advice.