A new innovation centre in Birmingham has welcomed its first occupants.
Called The Studio, it is a collaborative incubator for start-ups, sole traders, small businesses and creatives based at Birmingham City University's STEAMhouse building.
House in the Belmont Works former cycle factory, the 120,000 sq ft facility aims to enable local artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses in the creative industries to grow their products and services collaboratively.
There is peer networking, dedicated workspaces and in-house technicians on hand who specialise in product development and design.
Facilities also include 3D printers, a welding room, wood and steel-working stations and a textiles workshop. Collaborative architecture practice Co-Arch and resident artist Emily John are two of the first to take up space there.
BCU carried out a £70 million restoration and expansion of the old Belmont Works site off Jennens Road with work including revitalising its iconic façade and a full-scale reconstruction of its former 88-foot high water tower.
The building, whose origins date back to the early 1900s, had previously been badly damaged by a fire in 2007.
The STEAMhouse initiative was initially launched in a former car showroom in Digbeth's High Street almost six years ago before this second location was opened.
Head of STEAMhouse Clayton Shaw said: "Since opening in 2018, STEAMhouse has positioned itself at the heart of the city's innovation scene.
"We've continued to build and develop our offering for businesses of all shapes and sizes, from solo founders through to scale-ups. The Studio has been developed with specific businesses and founders in mind.
"The wrap-around support services allow entrepreneurs to not just move in and be surrounded by like-minded businesses but to also access tailored and specialist equipment and advice that is focused on their growth.
"There has never been a more important time for business support services to step up and help their local ecosystems to thrive and we're extremely proud to be part of Birmingham's ongoing start-up success story."
