About Us
Located at the University of the West of England, Future Space is a multi-award-winning innovation centre for high-tech businesses pushing the boundaries of their industry. This is the place where real-world innovation happens. Where trailblazing founders grow together. And where the next generation of tech talent is born.
From health tech to green tech, from digital tech to advanced engineering, Future Space is home to the region’s leading science and technology pioneers solving real problems with bold ideas.
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation — it thrives through collaboration. That’s why we’re based in the heart of the University Enterprise Zone at the University of the West of England, nurturing ambitious startups and scaleups through a powerful blend of cutting-edge workspace, university-partnered R&D and expert business support — all under one roof.
What we stand for
Real world innovation
Future Space is the home for tech startups and scaleups turning bold ideas into applied solutions, excelling in health, green and digital tech.
Trailblazing community
Great startups are born from ideas but built through powerful connections. We cultivate vibrant communities of ambitious pioneers.
University-partnered R&D
At Future Space, we fast-track innovation by connecting startups with UWE Bristol’s rich ecosystem of facilities, research and graduates.
Commitment to talent
We’re dedicated to bridging the tech skills gaps, connecting businesses with emerging talent — empowering the next generation of innovators.
Our fantastic team
Professor Matt Freeman
Centre Director
A Professor of Digital Media, Matt brings with him a wealth of innovation experience across both industry and academia. Having led a research centre at Bath Spa University and a marketing consultancy for immersive technologies, Matt’s skills revolve around R&D, strategy and audience development in the context of emerging technologies, publishing nine books on the topic. As Centre Director, Matt acts as Future Space’s figurehead, building a strategy for the centre’s future growth as well as cultivating partnerships across both UWE and the wider tech ecosystem.
Tom El-Shawk
Centre Manager
Tom has a diverse work history which will allow him to make Future Space a community of talent, creativity and big picture thinking and somewhere that businesses can grow and collaborate. As a centre manager Tom will always be visible and available to Future Space members and welcomes visits from those who are interested in learning more about what we do here. Tom is hoping to make positive changes, and he encourages everyone to share their ideas to make the most of an already brilliant place to create and innovate.
Thanh Quan-Nicholls
Innovation Manager
With 20 years of professional management and commercial experience, Thanh is business connector and an expert in business growth. She has set up three successful and award-winning co-working spaces and headed up Economic Development at Bristol City Council. Thanh was previously UWE’s Digital Innovation Lead and is also Co-founder of Women’s Tech Hub Bristol. As Innovation Manager, Thanh supports the FS business community to be at the centre of the region’s science and technology activities.
Scott Fessey
Assistant Centre Manager
Scott has previously worked in the leisure and visitor attraction industry in varying management and facilities roles. As Assistant Centre Manager, Scott manages the maintenance, reception IT, billing and operational processes which keep our building running. Scott is found in his spare time playing touch rugby and other sports, reading and being outdoors with his family.
Vikki O'Brien
Assistant Innovation Manager
Vikki graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Russian and Spanish. She worked in London in corporate sales for 11 years before moving into the charity sector. After moving back to Bristol during the pandemic, she started working for tech non-profit techSPARK before becoming Assistant Innovation Manager at Future Space in October 2023. In her spare time, Vikki enjoys visiting family and friends in South Africa and Australia, reading about gender issues, and spending time with her two young children.
Dr Sharon Chadwick
Lab Supervisor
Sharon has a background in molecular biology, and medical devices and has worked for several University spinout companies. She brings experience of working in many varied lab environments from Universities (with a Degree from Bristol University and PhD in Cancer Genetics from Birmingham University) to company labs, which is extremely helpful for assisting the businesses using the facilities.
Chidimma Gift Omenoba
Lab Technician
Gift graduated from the University of the Free State, South Africa with an MSc in Molecular Plant Breeding, where she worked part-time as a laboratory research assistant. She is currently acquiring a PhD in Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Bath. Gift brings her lab experience and passion for life science research to support company labs and contribute to our innovative tech community.
Fiona Palmer
Customer Experience Assistant
After graduating with a degree in Theology, Fiona worked for a national youth charity in the South West for many years. Since moving to Bristol she has worked in various capacities for U.W.E. (University of the West of England). Fiona has a passion for learning and research and is now looking forward to getting to know a whole new community of inspiring people in Future Space.
Hannah Suharto
Events and Marketing Coordinator
Hannah graduated with a BA Filmmaking Degree from UWE, which she used to gain experience in the TV Industry, then transferring her skills to events and marketing. With a background in music and grassroots initiatives, she aims to celebrate underrepresented groups. Hannah supports the operations of events that happen at Future Space, while also creating social media content.
There is no doubt in my mind that fostering an entrepreneurial atmosphere on our campus is a win for our students and our research community, as we know that by collaborating and nurturing business we create a climate of innovation that has a ripple effect.”
Professor Steve West, UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor
Powered by UWE Bristol
Co-located alongside the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the Centre for Print Research, the Health Tech Hub and the Launch Space incubator in the heart of the UWE Bristol campus, Future Space drives the university’s ambitions to prepare students with entrepreneurial skills, spark collaborations between UWE Bristol researchers, innovators and commercialise the latest research.
Putting enterprise at the heart of innovation
Future Space is part of one of four University Enterprise Zones in the UK. The West of England University Enterprise Zone provides facilities and services to companies specialising in robotics, biosciences, medical technologies, and other high-tech sectors.
The University Enterprise Zone has been led by UWE Bristol, with support from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.
We are proud to be part of Oxford Innovation Space, the premier network of innovation centre operators in the UK and Ireland. Managing the UK’s largest network of innovation centres, housing over 1,000 innovative early-stage businesses, they provide flexible workspace, and expert business support, and forge invaluable partnerships with local enterprise ecosystems, helping start-ups and growing businesses to thrive.
- Founded by The Oxford Trust to provide support to science, technology, and knowledge-led early-stage companies
- The largest operator of innovation centres in the UK – we have over 35 years of experience of running spaces and places to support SMEs and entrepreneurs
- Our clients are universities, research and major science site owners, public sector, private investors and charities
- We deliver a range of objectives: support to high-growth SMEs and spin outs, on-going revenue and financial sustainability, economic development, jobs growth, profile, and business engagement
- Access to Beauhurst – a searchable database of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses
- One of the largest Angel Investment Networks in the UK
- Access to active investors who can add value to early-stage companies, in addition to capital
- Seven investment showcase events every year so that selected companies can meet potential investors
- Access to support and tools from Oxford Innovation Finance
Future Space has helped us meet engineers and scientists that we can collaborate with to develop products using advanced materials and design tools that enhance our own ideas. It’s also a great place to meet people from different scientific disciplines that are interested in what we are developing."
Lance Hiley, Managing Director at Mass Spec Analytical
