ORIGINALLY a Grade II listed ironworks factory, it was built in 1875 for engineering company Mobbs & Co and was later turned into a leather warehouse. Vulcan Works is considered one of the best surviving engineering works for production of boot and shoe industry machinery but has undergone a £14 million regeneration in order to become home to up to more than 60 start-up and growing businesses in the creative sector.
The building has been transformed; the old iron stonework factories and museum store refurbished, a three-storey building constructed on the corner of St John’s Street and Fetter Street and a new block built on Angel Street.
Inside are 68 lettable units – office, studio and managed workshop space for young and expanding creative businesses. During its first ten years of operation, Vulcan Works is forecast to support up to 150 businesses across the county in its first ten years of operation, creating around 500 jobs.
Oxford Innovations, which supports businesses as they grow, has been appointed to manage the space, deliver business expertise and raise the finance that entrepreneurs need for their businesses to thrive.
The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership facilitated a Local Growth Fund contribution of £6.3 million and £3.06 million from the European Regional Development Fund towards the project. West Northamptonshire Council covered the remaining costs.
Councillors and council officials joined funding partners and Northampton South MP Andrew Lewer on a tour of the newly completed premises which stands within Northampton’s Cultural Quarter.
Pictured (top) are (from left) Cllr Daniel Lister, cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth: SEMLEP chief executive Hilary Chipping; Cllr André González De Savage, chairman of West Northamptonshire Council, the council’s deputy leader Councillor Adam Brown, director of communities and opportunities Jane Carr and council leader Cllr Jonathan Nunn.
As well as office space, tenants will receive business support in the form of workshops, seminars, one-to-one coaching, networking and facilitation. “We have high level of growth businesses and start-ups in Northamptonshire but unfortunately we also have a really high failure rate, higher than in some areas of the rest of England,” said Cllr Daniel Lister, cabinet member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth. “This building and the practical support on offer under its roof with will help to address this problem.
“With proper support, start-ups, scale ups and small businesses will be enabled to maximise and accelerate their growth and fully contribute to Northampton’s business community.”
SEMLEP chief executive Hilary Chipping added: “The transformation of the former ironworks adds much more than new, quality business units to the town. This is about nurturing the vibrant entrepreneurial culture so prevalent in Northampton. It has created the space dedicated to helping businesses to share ideas, collaborate and grow. We very much hope that it brings a lot of pride to the town.”
The Vulcan Works project has already stirred interest among digital and creative arts businesses keen to take space. “I have no doubt the units will fill up very quickly,” said Cllr Lister. “The transformation of the building is remarkable and the design and spec of exceptionally high quality. I am very hopeful for its future in enabling small businesses and start-ups to take that next step along the ladder of success.”
