New digital incubator hub opens for business with help from Pagabo

A new incubator hub for creative and tech businesses is set to open in Yorkshire following five months of construction work by Lindum.

The Harrogate Co-Lab will officially open next month after a £500,000 scheme to refurbish old Borough Council offices at Springfield House, inside the town’s Convention Centre.

Procurement made simple

Harrogate Borough Council procured the project at speed through our specialist Refit & Refurbishment Framework.

The use of our framework enabled the client to direct award the works to a pre-approved contractor of their choice in a fully compliant manner.

Following their apppointment, Lindum were able to get on site quickly and reached completion within 6 months of the client's intial engagement with Pagabo.

A project with the local community at its core

The work was completed by Lindum York, based in Elvington, and the finished building provides 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.

It will also offer a modern and attractive office space with co-working desk space and lounge area, 10 serviced offices with desk space for up to 10 people, high-speed secure broadband, meeting rooms, kitchen area, showers and facilities.

Karen Carter, Regional Manager for the North at Pagabo, said: “We were delighted to again support Harrogate Borough Council with the quick and compliant appointment of Lindum to deliver the Springfield House project; a facility which aligns to our values of being digital first and supporting new and smaller businesses to flourish.

“The award through our specialist refit and refurbishment framework showcases the expertise available within our ecosystem to efficiently progress projects for all of our public sector clients.”

Lindum MD Jonathan Sizer said: “We are so pleased to have been involved in such a forward-thinking scheme, providing opportunities and a platform for new and small business to develop as we emerge from the turbulence of the last two years.

“The space we have created is bright and fresh with an excellent infrastructure and a superb location in the heart of Harrogate.”

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.”

The ‘digital incubator hub’ 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. It was funded through £540,000 from the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and is expected to make the council around £49,000 a year in rent.

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