Work starts at Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Park’s new Hub building
A new £2.4 million Hub development to support Aberdeen and Scotland’s leading position in developing global energy technology is on schedule for completion by July 2012 Scottish Enterprise has confirmed.
Located at the Aberdeen Energy Park, The Hub will offer 15,000 sq ft of flexible office accommodation as well as meeting and networking space, including a café, for Park tenants and visitors. The Hub is a key feature of the enhanced tenant services program at the Aberdeen Energy and Innovation Parks which will encourage knowledge transfer and collaboration between tenants and academia.
The project is being delivered by a joint venture between Scottish Enterprise and Buccleuch Property, to accelerate the development of the Parks by attracting new investment to the area and support existing companies to grow.
The Hub is the first of a number of key investment projects to be delivered by the partners over the next five years. The joint venture committed £10 million in July 2010 to help transform nearly 155,000 sq ft of multi-let space and 25 acres of development land at the Aberdeen Energy and Innovation Parks, which between them are currently home to around 100 companies, employing 2,000 people in a range of incubator accommodation, larger office space and workshops.
This five year investment aims to increase the number of jobs at the Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks to more than 4,000.
Scottish Enterprise director of business infrastructure, Allan McQuade, said, “The Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks have enjoyed an international reputation as centres of technology excellence and innovation since they were first established in 1989.
“Together with our joint venture partner, we aim to preserve this reputation and build on it through providing world class facilities to encourage more companies to invest here and support existing companies to expand and grow.”
Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has confirmed its decision to relocate to The Hub in July 2012 as part of its ongoing customer improvements plans. The chamber has signed a 10 year lease to occupy around 5,000 sq ft on the ground floor of the building.
David Peck, Managing Director of Buccleuch Property said “An objective of our partnership with Scottish Enterprise is to create a high quality environment at the Parks for large and small businesses with accommodation to suit all. The Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s decision to relocate to the Aberdeen Energy Park is testament to the credentials of The Hub and to the Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks as prime locations to cultivate business growth and development.”
The Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks are an integral part of Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future’s (ACSEF) ambitious Energetica project which aims to create a world-class energy technology development, leisure and housing zone.
Sara Budge, Energetica project director added: “The Aberdeen Energy & Innovation Parks are the entrance to the southern gateway to Energetica and an important element of our aspiration for a unique, collaborative environment that will showcase our existing energy credentials and stimulate new research and innovation in all-energy.
“This announcement comes on the back of recent news that 30% of the potential £750m in new investment as a result of Energetica is now underway.”
Construction work at the site is expected to last 32 weeks and is being carried out by Robertson, a construction, investment, development and facilities services group of companies which has a base in Aberdeen.