THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of a recruitment company specialising in IT and digital has moved his team into Northampton’s Vulcan Works after praising the workspace for its impressive innovation and culture.
Darren Sharp, founder of S-SA Digital, moved into Vulcan Works at the beginning of January, saying there is “no better place you can be” for businesses in his industry.
S-SA Digital has been established for almost 17 years and boasts some big household names as clients as well as having smaller start-up businesses on its books.
Mr Sharp (main picture, second from left) became aware of Vulcan Works through his work with Digital Northants, which promotes innovation across the county. S-SA Digital has been a part of the initiative since its inception.
The company has moved from Silverstone Innovation Centre.
Darren said: “Silverstone was great – we had a good four years there – but at Vulcan Works, we are right in the heart of the town centre, the location and infrastructure are fantastic. There has not been anywhere like this until now.
“We wanted to build a culture purely embedded in the tech and digital environment and what Vulcan Works has achieved as an innovation and business hub cannot be overlooked. It made perfect sense to move here.”
He sums up the move as “absolutely superb” and is now looking to partner with the centre to build a Tech Club for like-minded businesses to meet and share best practices.
“The tech companies I work with have been to events here so they know it is a great place to be,” Mr Sharp said. “We are looking to do some other expansion pieces like building a club where techies can get together for events. There is no better place for it.
“I have had clients move to Vulcan Works too, which has been so great to see. It shows the right people are moving in and a community of similar artistic, inventive people is building. We are already creating a culture and working environment conducive to the arena we are in and it is easy to see why anyone in that environment would be attracted.”
Vulcan Works has also partnered with bank Barclays to launch a Barclays Eagle Lab which supports start-up businesses by building an entrepreneurial ecosystem around it. This ecosystem will give Northamptonshire-based start-ups and young businesses access to a network of industry experts and mentors as well as growth programmes, events and workshops, and investors and funding streams.
Mr Sharp said: “The Barclays Eagle Lab shows there is impressive investment and gathering interest in Vulcan Works and the incredible service they are providing. The facilities are great and there are a lot of community-based events here, specifically for creative and tech, as well as invaluable support on offer.
“We see this move as a fantastic opportunity to grow in a relevant and inspiring environment.”
Vulcan Works centre manager Garrick Hurter pictured left said: “It has been absolutely fantastic to welcome S-SA Digital to Vulcan Works. Darren and his team represent exactly the type of company that this centre was built to support – digital and creative specialists – and have immediately made the most of all the centre has to offer.
“Our community is growing and thriving, and it is wonderful to see and be a part of.”