By Jamie Lopez Stand Up For Southport
Southport has an opportunity to become a hub for creative and emerging industries with facilities opening up in the town providing new opportunities.
Jon Corner, who has led the development of a revolutionary new space in Southport town centre, believes the town is ready to take advantage of booming digital and tech markets to see the creation of new businesses and modern job opportunities to allow more young to pursue professional careers here.
Originally named the Enterprise Arcade, ‘Eastbank’ has seen an underused and outdated council building on Eastbank Street transformed into a high-quality workspace spanning 80,000sq ft with modern amenities for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses in the digital and creative sectors.
Fitted with ultrafast broadband, the space is designed to be flexible so it can adapt to the needs of new businesses. Hatter’s Digital Agency was the first to sign up and occupies a space on the second floor with more signed up to join them.
At a Sefton Huddle networking event, Eastbank’s state of the art podcast studio was unveiled and will be available to hire from early next year.
The studio has been designed by University of Liverpool’s VEC (formerly known as the Virtual Engineering Centre) and builds on its success in building its own similar facility and seeing huge use from businesses. Andrew Borland, VEC’s chief innovation officer, said: “We think this is a massive opportunity for Southport and Sefton. It is a way for you guys to showcase your businesses and to connect with wider audiences.”
At the same event, Glasgow-based robotics firm FUREAI announced it was making Eastbank its Northern base as it continues with the development of its Orbitro invention which is being targeted at a wide range of markets including medical uses. The company describes its activity as “developing intelligent, connected devices that blend robotics, AI and movement – creating new ways to stay close, share moments, and build bonds around the world” and will operate from the Southport facility.
For Jon, a digital expert who helped drive technology sector businesses to Media City in Salford, these two developments showcase the start of what Eastbank can offer but only form part of the ambitious plans. Talks are ongoing with more businesses of various sizes about operating from Eastbank while work continues on the ground and third floor.
The ground floor will be converted to a cafe by day with opportunities for remote work and a bar and events space by night. The upper floor, boasting views across Eastbank Street and Market Street, could also be used as a conference and networking space.
Speaking to Stand Up For Southport, Jon said events such as Sefton Huddle are a way to bring people into the new space and showcase what’s on offer.
“We really want to drive Eastbank as a hub. Sefton Huddle is bringing together the digital and creative community, not just in Southport but across the borough and the wider Liverpool City Region. This was the second we’ve run at Eastbank and it’s already grown.”
Of the opportunities and need to continue developing the town’s economy and the types of industries it can attract, he added: “There’s an ambition to diversify the economy. Southport 2.0 is going to be incredible. Absolutely amazing.
“We need to start thinking about what are the opportunities for young people in Southport. Eastbank will be an open door for young people to utilise their skills. We’ve got the top of the range podcast studio which will be available in the new year.”
With much more to come he believes the new downstairs space, which has expanded into the old Gallery Grill cafe and a former mobile phone shop, will be open to the general public as well as those based in the building, will be a major asset. Having previously spoken about the importance of having a visible and vibrant space, significant restoration work has been carried out to create a modern space.
“It’s going to be a coffee place but it will also be working in the night time economy. It’s an emerging space, it’s going to become a great space for future events.”
“We’re trying to get Southport into the wider tech consciousness of the UK.”
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