New incubators support digital start ups in Glasgow

Glasgow is aiming to encourage the next generation of digital entrepreneurs through the launch of two new incubators in the city later this week.

The 1,700 sq ft Creative Clyde Business Incubation Centre, located at Pacific Quay and another new Digital Enterprise Glasgow incubator in the University of Glasgow’s Thomson building will provide rent free office space, a mix of intensive business support and a nurturing environment to accelerate business growth.

Between them, the two new incubators aim to work with over 100 new companies over the next three years.

They are the latest in a network of six incubators established by Digital Enterprise Glasgow, a project of Glasgow City Council. With support from Business Gateway, tailored support services are provided for digital, e-commerce, technology, creative and knowledge intensive young and start-up companies.

The initial tenancy period in each incubator is six months and following formal review, an extension may be granted, dependent on the progress of the new business. The objective is to help young companies develop to the point they are ready to expand to their own commercial premises. After the initial period of support, monitoring and appropriate aftercare will continue to be delivered to maturing companies, to ensure ongoing, sustainable growth.

Creative Clyde and Digital Enterprise Glasgow worked together to establish the incubator at The Hub at Pacific Quay. It is viewed as an essential component of the Creative Clyde project, launched last year to stimulate the growth of the city’s creative industries.

The first occupier at the Creative Clyde Business Incubation Centre at Pacific Quay is Lifeup, a new film and TV production company with aims to specialise in video content for the web. Among its development projects is a web TV series which will offer a different, more interactive viewer experience.

Lifeup’s four directors, Jon Mcfarlane, Joseph Thomas, John McMurtrie and Christopher Mair founded the business last year and they have recognised the time is right for them to take the business to the next level.

Jon McFarlane from Lifeup said, “We regard moving in to the Creative Clyde incubator as a major milestone for our company and a serious declaration of our intentions to grow the business. Not only does the incubator offer a fantastic working environment with lots of support and expert advice on tap, but we are so pleased to be surrounded by like minded companies, major studio facilities, potential partners and collaborators, as well as prospective customers. We can’t wait to move in.”

The new incubator at the University of Glasgow also offers companies the opportunity to tap directly in to the Encompass project, which operates with partner universities to promote business through innovation and offers £5,000 innovation funding vouchers that can lead to more substantial funding opportunities. They can also access the Scottish Sensor Systems Centre, linking Scottish universities with industry, offering grants of up to £40,000 to SMEs for research and development projects, in the field of intelligent sensor systems.

Other Digital Enterprise Glasgow incubators are located at Stow College, Cardonald College, University of Strathclyde and City of Glasgow College which, between them, are currently working with over 30 start up businesses.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Jobs and the Economy, at Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow is working hard to increase business start-up and survival rates in our city. These incubators are helping the city’s fledgling entrepreneurs take their ideas from the drawing board to a commercial success.

‪“The first six months in any new business is critical for its long-term survival. By supporting these new businesses in this initial period we hope in the future they will provide new jobs and a boost to the Glasgow economy.”

Linda McPherson, Director, Creative Industries Scottish Enterprise said, “We look forward to the start-up companies at the incubator in The Hub joining the Creative Clyde community and contributing to the growth of a flourishing, vibrant centre for media, technology and creatively minded businesses.”

Marion Anderson, Encompass Project Manager at the University of Glasgow, said, “The University’s incubator space provides a nurturing environment for a range of young start up and spin out technology companies as well as access to the wealth of support the University is able to offer industry. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Digital Enterprise Glasgow by providing dedicated space within our Incubator facilities to support creative industry companies, encouraging them to reach their full potential.”