GB-Colchester: Creative Business Centre Operator

Colchester Borough Council are seeking an operator to deliver a vibrant, cohesive space which offers both flexible and permanent workspace for a broad range of creative industries. We envisage the Creative Business Centre to be a hub for both creative businesses and individuals, providing not only workspace but support, events, learning and social opportunities to foster greater collaboration and sector development.

The selected operator will have the opportunity to develop an incubator specifically targeted to nurture and support startups in the Creative sector alongside more established anchor tenants. With a total refurbishment scheme cost of circa £3m, Colchester Borough Council intends to provide the completed building to an operator under a management agreement to be run in accordance with a set of agreed framework objectives.

Whilst funding exists for Phase 1 and this programme of redevelopment has already commenced, it is envisaged that an operator is secured to manage the whole building and submissions are required which demonstrate the operators proposals for development of the final phase of delivery. It is proposed that the completed phase 1 of the centre will continue to be run as a creative incubator whilst Phase 2 is progressed.