Read this blog, by Cllr Lauren Edwards, Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, to find out more about the Innovation Hub.
Following February’s approval at Medway Council’s Planning Committee, it’s now full speed ahead on our plans to deliver an exciting new workplace to support growing businesses in Medway. The Innovation Hub is one of our flagship regeneration projects for our emerging city centre in Chatham and will be known as ‘Ascend’.
The brand new hub will provide workspaces for businesses across Medway, supporting entrepreneurs, freelancers and employees. Ascend will be located on the first floor of the Pentagon Shopping Centre. It will provide modern, exciting and professional office spaces to help small-to- medium size businesses to grow.
Construction works are due to begin this month (April) and will be delivered by Form Fit Out. They have an impressive back catalogue, creating inspiring workspaces for over 20 years. We’re looking forward to working with them on the build.
Ascend will be run day-to-day by the council’s commissioned provider: Edgility (in partnership with Kiln). We’re delighted that they will be the lead provider for this project and will be running operations moving forward.
With its central location in the heart of Chatham next to Chatham High Street, the new offices will help support Medway’s growing local economy. We are immensely proud of the fact that we have more than 14,000 businesses in Medway (more than 90 per cent are small businesses) who are the lifeblood of our local economy which is now worth £5.9bn. We recognise that a supportive business environment is key to Medway’s economic regeneration, particularly in its town centres, and are committed to supporting businesses through these challenging economic times. Ascend is just one way of demonstrating our commitment to businesses across Medway.
Among the services on offer at Ascend will include:
- Coworking space
- Private offices
- Meeting rooms
- Free business support and networking
The development will include high speed broadband, quality interiors and furnishings, creating both stylish and unique working areas.
Ascend has been created thanks to funding secured from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, investment from Medway Council, and funding from the South-East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (SELEP) Getting Building Fund.
Our funding secured through the Future High Streets Fund is also going towards several projects in Chatham town centre including The Paddock, St John’s Church, NHS Healthy Living Centre, Debenhams and The Brook Theatre, as we look to make it an even better place to live, work, learn and visit. To find out more, visit: Medway.gov.uk/FutureChatham
Ascend is due to open this autumn and enquires are now being taken online ahead of its launch.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to elevate the way you work.
Make an enquiry at AscendCoworking.com