Phoenix Centre set to soar
The Phoenix Centre, a business incubator
on the York St John University campus, has been hailed a resounding
success with activity confirmed to extend beyond the original two
years of the scheme.
York St John University is taking over the
reins from Science City York in managing the highly successful
unit, launched in 2009 to kick start the development and growth of
a new generation of creative and digital businesses for Yorkshire
and the North East. The pioneering initiative was led for the first
two years by Science City York with funding from Yorkshire Forward.
With a strong track record in supporting start-ups and graduate
employability in the region, York St John University is ideally
placed to stimulate the sustainability of the Centre going forward
with continued support from Yorkshire Forward funding.
The significant success of the business
incubators has meant that the Centre is now recruiting a new
cohort, with a series of business briefings being held in the
Phoenix Centre at York St John University on Monday 11 July.
Businesses must be in their first year of trading, be able to
demonstrate a potential for growth and show an enthusiasm to engage
with York St John University faculties and students. From September
2011 occupants’ business remits will broaden beyond solely the
creative and digital sector, as was the case in previous years, to
any innovative start-up business. There is capacity for around 6-10
businesses (depending on size) and occupants would take up their
position in the Centre from 1 September.
The Phoenix Centre provides affordable space
for new ventures, with access to specialist technical facilities
and sector-specific business support, mentoring and training.
Business can occupy space in the Centre for a maximum of one year,
with significantly subsidised rental rates and comprehensive
business development support. Over the past two years, 16 fledgling
businesses have benefited from the support of the incubation
facility, working alongside complementary businesses to improve the
quality and diversity of their work and to learn how to grow their
business.
In addition to the training, CPD and business
development support occupants are able to access throughout their
year, the new cohort will benefit from a number of enhancements to
the scheme. A full time Centre Manager will work to support the
long-term sustainability of the Phoenix Centre and businesses will
be recruited based on their potential for synergy between other
businesses in the Centre. Science City York will continue their
support and provide a series of programmes bringing differing
expertise under one roof through an open innovation acceleration
programme.
Heather Niven, Creative York Manager at
Science City York, coordinated the development of the Phoenix
Centre from the start and will continue to support it in its next
phase. She commented:
“Science City York is delighted to hand over
the management of the Phoenix Centre to York St John University and
we’re really excited to be kicking off the next stage. From the
start we have encouraged an open approach to transforming raw
talent into successful business and the new open innovation
accelerator programme which SCY will be running alongside the
Incubator, using ‘open innovation’ practice to help large and small
companies develop their processes and products is set to build on
that.”
Sue Reece, Pro Vice Chancellor (Development)
of York St John University added:
“The Phoenix Centre has been a huge success
with an abundance of innovative businesses realising their
ambitions under one roof. We have seen fantastic collaboration
between the incubating businesses and our staff and students,
giving both a taste of what is possible when creative and business
minds collide.
“Additionally, the Phoenix Centre further
enhances York St John’s reputation in working with businesses and
encouraging growth, and builds on the success of our own incubation
initiatives such as the DesignWorks unit on campus.”
Picture shows: Heather Niven, Creative York Manager,
pictured with 2010 - 2011 Phoenix occupants Snapshot
Media
For further information please contact Amy Hall, PR
& Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or E: a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk
