Escada become Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation’s first tenant

The innovative office development - the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) - has secured its first office tenant.

The Escada Group, an international hardware and software developer and supplier of control systems to the corrugated paper manufacturing industry, is to lease a 2000 sq ft unit on the second floor of the building.

C4DI, which was developed by Hull-based Wykeland Group, acts as the centrepiece of @TheDock, a huge regeneration scheme located in Hull’s Fruit Market and Central Dry Dock area.

The 23,000 sq ft office building is designed to cater for start-ups in the digital and tech industries, and aims to create a thriving digital community which will help conventional businesses innovate, grow and use technology more effectively.

The Escada Group, which works with clients ranging from independent businesses to large, global groups, will base its corporate headquarters at C4DI while maintaining other offices and production facilities in Malton and Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and in Atlanta, USA.

Gavin Bushby, founder and chairman of the Escada Group, said: “As part of our company strategy, our vision is to create a more corporate-focused company with an emphasis on product and systems innovation and safeguarding the future success, expansion and stability of the Escada Group.

“During our investigation process we met with the C4DI team and were extremely inspired with their vision and enthusiasm. The links with the universities and colleges are vital for us to recruit and nurture talent for the future, and the community that will develop along with C4DI will provide us with essential opportunities to build relationships with other skilled individuals and technical companies.

“We feel by moving our corporate headquarters to C4DI we can achieve our vision and much, much more.”

The ground floor of C4DI will feature hotdesks, public workspaces, meeting room and a large presentation/studio space which has a variety of uses. The building’s upper floors will provide different sized offices aimed at SME and fast-growing companies in the digital and technology sector.

Furthermore, the development has also installed the fastest broadband in the city provided by KC Lightstream with each desk providing the user with a 100Mb symmetric connection.

Mr Bushby added: “Hull has a strong, emerging digital technology community and an excellent, high-speed fibre optic network which is really important for a business like ours, those at the forefront of developing some of the best technologies in the world.”

John Connolly, managing director of C4DI Ltd, the innovation and workspace management company said: “We are delighted that the Escada Group is relocating to Hull for its new corporate HQ. The move reflects the benefits of the knowledge, connectivity, infrastructure and support available to fast-growing technology businesses that we have here in Hull.

“Over the last few months the Escada Group has become more involved with the C4DI community. We’ve seen how their projects have brought new work to start-up businesses and how the business has developed new products and solutions by tapping into the expertise and talent already in Hull.

“The Escada Group’s global reputation as an innovator within their field, together with their ambition and plans for the growth of their business is hugely exciting both for them, and for the city, and we look forward to their team being based here.”