Success at software centres
Two Sunderland software incubators are celebrating the success of some of their key companies.
Sunderland Software Centre and Evolve Business Centre are both council-run facilities, set up to ignite digital start-ups, and aid the development and growth of software and tech companies.
And both have seen businesses grow, with some moving from smaller spaces to bigger suites, as a number of the city’s software ventures go from strength to strength.
A hotbed of software, tech and creative businesses, the Software Centre – which opened just five years ago – has occupancy of almost 70 per cent, with almost every smaller unit in the centre now home to exciting young businesses.
Of the 61 offices in the city centre base, 50 are either occupied or have strong interest, and some of the centre’s larger businesses are also considering taking a larger suite as they prepare for further expansion.
One such business is Saggezza, which has plans to add some 30 new roles over the coming months.
The company, which also has offices in London, India and the US, has enjoyed rapid growth since locating in the centre.
Martin Williams, UK MD at Saggezza, said: “The company has gone from strength to strength since locating in Sunderland Software Centre.
“We’ve built an enviable portfolio of clients, and our team is delivering for them, which is fantastic.
“The next step for us is further expansion – we have a number of live vacancies, but essentially, this is about assembling the strongest possible team to keep up the momentum we have established.
“We continue to work closely with the city council and partners like the University of Sunderland and other North East universities, to ensure that we are able to keep up the rate of growth we have achieved so far.”
Designed as incubator space to offer staged office moves and supporting companies as they expand and grow, the centre boasts a variety of firms, from web designers and developers, game innovators, app creators, production companies and communications experts.
Between them, the businesses based in the centre account for more than 250 jobs, worth some £4.5million.
The centre is one of three council-owned business centres and offers tenants ease of access to its Business Investment Team and sector development body Sunderland Software City which, coupled with the Digital Catapult Centre North East & Tees Valley - only one of four outside London - means tenants enjoy the best possible support to take their enterprise to the next level.
The cutting-edge hub was built following the success of Evolve Business Centre. The Software Centre and Evolve along with Washington Business Centre, which is also owned and operated by the council, are providing space to some of Sunderland’s most exciting businesses.
Software Centre-based Coatsink, an award-winning games development company and digital innovator was created in 2009 by Tom Beardsmore and Paul Crabb. In the last two and a half years it has more than tripled its workforce, from 20 staff to 62 in the Software Centre, and now has a large footprint across the centre.
Tom, said: “What’s great about the centre is the potential for expansion. When we started, we were a small operation with a handful of clients occupying a modest office, but now we have an established reputation, recruited a larger team and moved into a bigger office.
“We chose to base ourselves in Sunderland because of its highly resilient, ultrafast connectivity, teamed with high quality technology support and growing reputation for nurturing tech and software businesses and we have never regretted that decision. The Software Centre has been a brilliant home to us and long may that continue.”
And Coatsink is one of a number of businesses to see an encouraging rate of growth, with seven companies having seen triple-digit growth in terms of the office space needed in the short while they have occupied the building – proof that the incubator model works.
“We know that tenants feel well-supported in the centre and that’s key,” said Coun Trueman.
“The teams from these businesses are spending their money in our city, and city centre, supporting other small businesses, which was one of the things we were keen to promote when we opened the Software Centre in the heart of the city.”
With conference areas that can seat up to 160 people and innovation and break-out areas, the Software Centre prides itself on its ability to encourage further networking opportunities, allowing tenants to expand their connections.
Roar Motion Ltd, an award-wining filmmaking company offering filming, editing and animation services, have utilised networking opportunities available at the Software Centre.
Matt Eyre, co-founder of the business, said: “Being based at the Software Centre has provided businesses like ours with the perfect opportunity to network with other tenants – its opened up a host of new opportunities and has really helped us to establish ourselves.
“We strongly believe that being surrounded by such creative and innovative people has been integral to our success – it’s helped bring the best out of Roar Motion.”
In Sunderland, a whole new world of digital tech has emerged over the last 25 years. In 2017, it was cited with the highest digital tech business birth rate in the UK, and the second fastest Digital Turnover Growth behind London.
It’s Evolve centre was described by a national media outlet as ‘Sunderland’s Silicon Valley’.
To find out more about Sunderland’s burgeoning software sector, visit www. makeitsunderland.com or call 0191 561 1194 or follow @ MakeItSund.