Despite not being due to open until December 2011, Toffee Factory in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley has already exceeded expectations by securing tenants for over a third of its 1,600 sq m of state of the art creative office space. This is well over the target of 10% of pre-let space that Creative Space Management, the building managers, had aimed for upon opening the building later this year.
Toffee Factory is part of a substantial regeneration project within the area which will form a £6 million hub for creative and digital businesses making the building a major addition to the cluster of creative businesses already in the area.
Eight businesses have now signed up for office space in Toffee Factory which will eventually house 25 different creative and digital businesses who will all benefit from the high spec, unique office surroundings that cater perfectly for expanding business.
Two of the eight companies who will be moving into Toffee Factory in the New Year will be marking an important milestone in their companies’ lives with both celebrating their first birthdays. Both Hedley McEwan and Multiminded are creative businesses that launched in January 2011 and have reached a point where they need more office space as they expand and Toffee Factory will provide an excellent community for them to work and grow within.
Hedley McEwan launched in January 2011 and provides creative solutions for marketing projects through digital and print advertising and design; fitting perfectly into the tenant profile of the building. Duncan McEwan from Hedley McEwan commented: “The Ouseburn is the place to be in Newcastle if you are a creative business and Toffee Factory provides the ideal office space for such businesses. We loved the idea of working in a regenerated building with so much history that is springing back to life – not only is it high spec but Toffee Factory will have soul!”
Multiminded is an ideas driven creative agency specialising in the production of digital content including web documentaries and virals, marketing, branding and web design.
Speaking about why she chose Toffee Factory to house her growing business, Multiminded Creative Director, Fiona Birkbeck said: “I remember the first time that I noticed someone had started developing the Toffee Factory building. I couldn’t wait to find out what it was going to be and when I heard it was for businesses like ours I was thrilled. The Ouseburn is a very creative place to be, I met my business partner Nic Schneiders in another creative building in the area, the Brick Works, and we look forward to collaborating with the other ‘Toffee Residents’ in the future.
“The timing of the opening of Toffee Factory could not be more perfect as it coincides with our first birthday and we cannot wait for a double celebration when we move in.”
Toby Hyam, Managing Director of Creative Space Management (Toffee Factory’s management company) added: “When we put our business plan to NewcastleGateshead’s city development company 1NG we estimated that we would have pre-let 10% of Toffee Factory’s office space by the opening at the end of 2011 and to have already let 36% of the building is fantastic. The Ouseburn is the creative centre in the North East and we believe that Toffee Factory will become a pillar of that community and help to promote Newcastle as a business destination.
“Once companies have moved into the building we hope they will join our vision of attracting others from outside of the region and act as ‘Toffee Ambassadors’ helping to put Newcastle firmly on the map and business plans of creative companies across the UK and Internationally.”
Joining Hedley McEwan and Multiminded in Toffee Factory’s serviced office spaces will be: Ambit Creatives, Keltie Cochrane, Danielle Dunn Agency, and Pod Architects amongst others.
Peter McIntyre, 1NG Project Director for Ouseburn and East Quayside said: “It has always been our vision, alongside partner Newcastle City Council, for Toffee Factory to grow an ecology of businesses, becoming a hub and catalyst for creative and digital industries. It is great to see leading creative companies see this vision. Toffee Factory offers them the opportunity to grow in size amongst like-minded businesses in one of the UK’s most unique cultural quarters.”
To find out more about Toffee Factory please visit www.toffeefactory.co.uk.
