Plans to establish two flagship sites to build on our region's
strength in digital and creative sectors have been backed by
leaders as a £160million investment zone gathers momentum.
The tees valley investment zone capital programme was approved by
the tees valley mayor and cabinet members at their latest cabinet
meeting.
And within it was the approval of a new digital and creative
enterprise and innovation hub in middlesbrough and a new creative
production hub in hartlepool to help supercharge our existing
creative and digital strengths.
An independent review into the investment zone's plans found that
while tees valley has significant strengths in digital, creative
and research activity, further investment is needed to provide
space, facilities and infrastructure to help businesses grow,
innovate and commercialise their new ideas.
Under the plans, middlesbrough's new hub will focus on business
growth, innovation and commercialisation, building on the success
of the town's boho digital cluster.
Meanwhile, the hartlepool hub will support creative production
activity, creator economy businesses and production supply chains
through specialist facilities and shared equipment.
This will complement the wider vision and plans around the
northern studios and production village in the town.
Tees valley mayor ben houchen said: "successful digital and
creative economies need the right mix of infrastructure,
investment and talent.
by creating these centres in middlesbrough and hartlepool, we're
backing businesses and making sure they can access the facilities
they need closer to home.
"we're world leaders in gaming, have a brilliant digital sector
in middlesbrough and hartlepool is cementing itself as a key
filmmaking centre in the north of england.
these plans will help our businesses grow, spark more local jobs
and build on our brilliant strengths i'm looking forward to
seeing spades in the ground.
The two facilities will operate as part of a connected system,
with activity supported by region-wide business support,
specialist technology access and industry engagement across the
wider region.
It is estimated costs the new middlesbrough hub will cost between
£7million and £10million, with £3million to £5million for the
hartlepool creative production hub.
A further £3million to £5million would be spent to equip both
sites with cutting-edge shared technology infrastructure and
equipment.
The final costs will be subject to the approval of business
cases, with the hubs to be completed in 2029.
Middlesbrough mayor chris cooke, tvca cabinet member for finance,
organisational improvement and business growth, said:
"middlesbrough has established itself as the home of our region's
digital sector with the boho area supporting hundreds of
businesses and highly skilled jobs.
"this approval provides a clear direction for the next stage of
that development. The proposed digital & creative enterprise
hub will help growing companies access the space, facilities and
support they need to develop new products, attract investment and
create more opportunities for local people.
"working alongside partners across the tees valley, we can
strengthen the environment for innovation and give ambitious
businesses the confidence to build and stay here."
This latest announcement comes on the back of the recent launch
of the Tees valley investment zone
innovation voucher programme which will see £1.5million
invested to help our region's digital and creative businesses
test, build, pilot and scale up projects into 2027.
The £160million tees valley investment zone is nationally unique
in backing digital and creative businesses with the research,
support, skills and infrastructure they need to innovate, scale
and compete internationally.
It is expected to help create more than 2,000 jobs and
potentially unlock £175million of investment over the next
decade, with support aimed at helping start-ups, smes and
established firms innovate, scale and compete in fast-growing
markets.
