Fledgling businesses in Bristol’s burgeoning creative, digital and hi-tech industries will soon be able to set up home in a new workspace scheme to be made out of 20 shipping containers.
Called Boxworks, it will provide additional capacity for the neighbouring Engine Shed innovation hub at Temple Meads, whose SETsquared business incubator centre has been operating at full occupancy for a year.
Demand is soaring among innovative businesses and projects wishing to be part of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone’s growing tech and creative cluster.
The shipping containers, which will be craned into position on the car park next to Engine Shed this month, will offer accommodation to a number of expanding businesses that have outgrown the limited space at SETsquared.
Bristol City Council granted planning permission for scheme, pictured above in a computer-generated image, on Wednesday. It will house around 120 entrepreneurs.
Engine Shed is a ground-breaking collaboration between the city council and the University of Bristol, supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Built within part of Brunel’s original Temple Meads railway station, it generated £7m for the city’s economy within a year of opening.
Boxworks is being described as a ‘meanwhile project’ – it will last for up to two-and-a-half years – and will help plug the gap in affordable, flexible and curated workspace before the Engine Shed phase 2 opens in the second half of 2017.
This scheme – which is expected to be built on a key site very close to the Engine Shed – will be funded by £4m received by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in January from the previous Government.
Engine Shed phase 2 is expected to triple the amount of incubation and grow-on space available for hi-tech, social, creative and digital businesses in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
The Boxworks scheme has been inspired by similar projects in London and will pioneer the container-based workspace concept in Bristol.
It has been designed, built and will be operated commercially by shared workspace firm Forward with services provided by Engine Shed. It will include access to the iconic Engine Shed business lounge.
Although Boxworks will not be a permanent installation, those behind it say it will be a key plank of the strategic vision for the regeneration of the enterprise zone, creating employment space for businesses that will benefit the wider West of England.
Engine Shed director Nick Sturge said: “We are delighted to be working with such an entrepreneurial business as Forward to create this space on land made available by our partners the HCA.
“Only with the continued strong support from our partners – the University of Bristol, city council, the LEP and the HCA – can this project be delivered in true entrepreneurial fashion.
“We have been overwhelmed with growth of the enterprises inside Engine Shed and with interest from other businesses and projects wanting to be a part of the community here. Boxworks will be an exciting addition – and feature – of this community.”
Forward CEO Gavin Eddy added: “Boxworks is a really good example of a public private partnership where a motivated client and an established operator can make things happen fast.
“Working with Engine Shed we will be delivering exciting and affordable workspace for the SME technology and creative sectors in the heart of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.”
Entrepreneur and investor Gavin drew on his experience as an investment banker in London to set up Forward in 2007. It set and now operates the Old Church School in Frome and the Collar Factory in Taunton, which focus on providing creative and innovative shared workspace for creators, doers and thinkers. Gavin is also a SETSquared Business Mentor of the Year.
Boxworks is expected to be completed and operational by the beginning of August.
