Innovation Central just the ticket for model railway manufacturer

Simon Howard, warranty technician for award-winning model railway company Accurascale and a passionate railway enthusiast, spends his days repairing model trains at Accurascale’s "train hospital" in Darlington. From his window at Innovation Central, Simon overlooks the birthplace of rail travel, the Stockton and Darlington Railway. 

"Let’s face it, my little train hospital couldn’t be anywhere better!" said Simon. 

Innovation Central, part of Darlington’s Central Park development, is managed by the North East BIC and Darlington Borough Council. It offers flexible office spaces designed to help businesses thrive and grow, with funding support from the European Regional Development Fund, £3.55 million from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Government’s Getting Building Fund. The site is also home to Accurascale’s warranty hub, where Simon operates.

Accurascale, founded in 2015, has disrupted the model railway industry with its innovative design techniques, including 3D scanning. The company ships thousands of models worldwide and has been voted Manufacturer of the Year since 2021. 

While most of the team works remotely, Simon is based at Innovation Central to manage Accurascale’s lifetime warranty programme. And for Simon, being surrounded by Darlington’s rich railway history adds a special significance to his work. He added: “"I’m surrounded by railway history. It's amazing to be doing this job where rail travel began as we know it began with the Stockton and Darlington Railway. 

“The only downside is that I’m occasionally distracted by what’s going on outside on the rails when I’m on a video call with the team!”

Richard Watson, digital manager at Accurascale, said: “The company has enjoyed massive growth thanks to the innovative way we work. 

“Every person in the team has been handpicked for their talent and because they are home-based there are no geographical constraints when it comes to recruitment.

“But we need a professional front door for the business and a UK postal address for customers worldwide, and Innovation Central is the perfect choice for us.

“The facilities ticked all of the boxes, it gives us the hybrid way of working we need and it’s an unbelievable bonus that we’re sitting on the site where all of the amazing history took place!”

Dan Sanderson, centre manager at Innovation Central, added: “We love nothing more than to strengthen businesses by providing them with the facilities and community they need to grow and thrive. It’s extra special to share such a historic link with Accurascale.”

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