We have opened our doors to 10,000 square feet of brand-new office and laboratory facilities right here in Bristol.
This expansion is part of the University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) at the University of the West of England and will provide a home for high-tech health, engineering, creative technology and green tech businesses benefitting from a unique university-partnered pathway to innovation.
Seven new labs and 12 new offices offer space for up to 130 new people – increasing our capacity to support up to 70 businesses and bringing new jobs and opportunities to the city. An extra £1 million GVA could be generated a year as a result of this expansion.
Embracing change
New facilities are also on offer for our members already located in our main building, as a facelift of our networking areas are happening imminently – including a new-look reception area, event space, hot-desking and café area.
Future Space businesses, such as Albotherm, are using the expansion as an opportunity to grow. Albotherm develop an innovative carbon-saving coating for commercial greenhouses and have grown from three to seven people since joining our space in 2021.
Now they are moving into their own lab within the our space, known as W Block. “This gives us the best of both worlds as we can grow while having access to shared facilities”, says their CEO Molly Allington.
Members here benefit from business support led by Oxford Innovation and a newly launched university-partnered R&D pathway programme, working with academics, students, and facilities based across UWE Bristol, as well as from leading research centres co-located in the UEZ such as the Centre for Print Research.
“You can meet up with people from all over the University of the West of England”, says Neciah Dorh, CEO at FluoretIQ, “connecting with the Health Tech Hub and Bristol Robotics Lab – we are working with both, and they have been invaluable to us.”
Professor Matt Freeman, Centre Director at Future Space, says:
“This expansion demonstrates our commitment to providing top-notch facilities for our thriving community of high-tech businesses inspired to work at the forefront of their sector.
“All new businesses will get access to our award-winning innovation support, including our new university-partnered approach to R&D and business support, allowing them to thrive in partnership with UWE Bristol, one of the region’s leading universities.”
Tracey John, Director of Research, Business and Innovation at the University of the West of England, says:
“This expansion signifies more than a new building – it is the start of a fresh approach to nurturing innovation and R&D here at Future Space.
“This environment fosters collaboration, sparks ingenuity, and propels businesses to new heights through its partnership with the university.
“Together we support businesses throughout each stage of the scale up journey, allowing students unique access to the business world, and giving businesses unique access to new talent and exciting research. We’re excited for the journey ahead at Future Space and keen to see where it goes next.”
Hannah Van Den Bergh, CEO of Future Space company NPK Recovery, adds:
“Working at Future Space has accelerated our business and given us the freedom to experiment. Not only does it have lab space, Future Space has been invaluable in leveraging new relationships across the university and the ecosystem, opening the door to new ideas – including welcoming our shipping container on site, used to recycle the nutrients from urine into fertiliser.
“This type of space for innovation is just not possible elsewhere in the city.”
