Workspace for creative industries to open in Harrogate following £540k investment

A co-working space for digital and tech businesses is set to open at Springfield House, Harrogate Convention Centre in December following investments by Harrogate Borough Council.

Known as Co-Lab, the digital incubator at Harrogate Convention Centre on Kings Road, will provide a collaborative environment where businesses can gain access to information about funding and investment, insight, supply chain, help with talent recruitment and other advice that enables tech businesses to thrive.

Alistair Forbes, Harrogate Borough Council’s in-house growth manager who will support businesses at Co-Lab, said: “Over the last few years, we’ve lost count of the number of people who have asked us ’are there any co-working or incubator office spaces in Harrogate?”

“This got us thinking; we needed to find a way to meet this demand and it needed to be dedicated to digital, creative and tech businesses who really need this type of space.

“Co-Lab will be focussed on digital and tech businesses, but we are inviting anyone interested in collaborating with the business community to talk to us. From designers, to hardware specialists, technologists, marketers and developers, our aim is that everyone works together to help our community become more successful.”

Co-Lab has been created by the borough council, as a key element in its economic growth strategy, with the aim of helping the district economy to grow.

Funding of £540k for the project was acquired via a successful bid through the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool, with the aim of creating attractive office space environment to enhance the digital and tech eco-system in our area.

Businesses wishing to join Co-Lab need to be in the digital and creative industries business sector.

Including businesses involved in fintech, augmented reality and virtual reality, digital health, film and animation production, music, digital content creation and management, immersive technology and content, publishing, cyber security, data, gaming, or product design.

Businesses will also need to be one with a scalable product or service, with the ambition to grow whether through turnover or employee numbers.