Member Article

New Tees Valley digital hub welcomes first tenant

Space Design Associates, formerly Catering Design Limited, has become the first company to join Fusion Hive, a working space serving create and digital organisations in the Tees Valley.

Set up over ten years ago, Space Design Associates are looking to accelerate their growth, and relocation to Fusion Hive is a key part of the company’s strategy. This week has seen the re-launch of the business, complete with a new brand and ambitious plans for growth.

Space Design Associates specialise in the design and implementation of a range of environments including coffee shops, cafés and commercial kitchen facilities, as well as teaching and learning spaces, reception areas and meeting spaces. It was the opportunity to work with like-minded digital and creative industries in the Fusion Hive environment that clinched their decision to move there.

Fusion Hive is operated by Teesside University and gives tenants access to significant business networks, expertise and training, as well as support with finding funding sources.

Keith Richardson, of Space Design Associates, said: “We are very proud of how the company has grown over the years, but we have ambitious plans for the future and we know that our relocation to Fusion Hive will help facilitate that growth. Joining and collaborating with like-minded digital and creative organisations will inevitably create new opportunities for our business.

“Fusion Hive has been specifically designed for growing organisations like us. The potential to work with Teesside University and Stockton Council with access to their business expertise and training opportunities provides an added incentive to relocate. It has also made real financial sense for us to join Fusion Hive with introductory rents and rates relief.

“We are working on some large projects at present with some great clients and we are confident that Fusion Hive will provide us with an inspirational environment that will promote success.

“We urge other digital and creative organisations to join us at Fusion Hive to take advantage of what I am confident will quickly become a catalyst for creativity, innovation and business excellence.”

Laura Woods, Director of Academic Enterprise at Teesside University, said: “We are delighted to welcome Space Design Associates to Fusion Hive.

“This fantastic new building coupled with the skills, expertise and access to networks that we have at Teesside University will provide the perfect environment for this innovative and forward-thinking company to grow and prosper.”

Fusion Hive is part funded by the The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDFs Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is bringing over £300m into North East England to support innovation, enterprise and business support. It will reportedly help create and safeguard 28,000 new jobs, start 3,000 new businesses and increase the productivity by £1.1bn per annum.