An innovation centre is a complex ecosystem of space, services, content and community. Cockerton + Co provide the full range of services to design and operate innovation centres.
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Building innovation centres is the answer. Innovation centres are places, services, and communities which, when done right, can drive economic recovery, nurture talent and create commercial returns.
A landowner in need of a new commercial lettings or place-making strategy
Working in government and supporting tech innovation and job creation
Part of a corporation that needs to future-proof its strategy
Read on to learn more, or contact Cockerton + Co for help designing and building an innovation centre that delivers impact.
Co-working, virtual working and decentralised teams are fast becoming the norm. Thanks to modern workplace practices and COVID lockdowns, organisations are continually re-assessing the spaces and resources they need to do business.
For many businesses, an expensive, branded office building in central London is no longer a necessity for company success or cohesion. Instead, today’s professionals are finding ways to bring work home, trading in packed public transport and unproductive time in offices for tech-enabled home offices. And that’s a great thing….or is it?
Moving away from traditional working environments brings new challenges to the social, educational and commercial needs of the business. When employees aren’t physically present, it can be more difficult for them to collaborate, network, and learn from others.
The trend towards decentralised teams can also hinder the innovation process. “What isn’t scheduled doesn’t happen” is the new phrase – and some organisations are losing opportunities for serendipity, peer-learning, and the collaborative and competitive forces of clusters. These are the critical benefits that innovation centres and communities can re-instil in the businesses that use them.
We at Cockerton + Co strongly believe that modern organisations need to move with these new working trends and design new propositions, services and communities to fill the gaps. We design, build and manage innovation centres that deliver value to the landowner, the innovator member and the wider community of collaborators.
The most successful innovation centres leverage their local resource pool, whether it’s a University with strengths in Life Sciences, a nearby community of industrial designers, or physical proximity to a marketplace of customers.
These local assets are the original differentiators of innovation centres. Accordingly, they are where we at Cockerton + Co start when crafting the future identity of a place. Consider what assets, resources or communities are found locally that cannot be found elsewhere and find ways to engage and incorporate them into your proposition.
The most attractive innovation centres will be known for something specific. For example, Level39 in Canary Wharf became the premium destination for Fintech companies in London (read our Level 39 case study to learn more).
When innovation centres specialise in a sector, they can source the most knowledgeable mentors and design relevant professional services. They can also run events that maximise peer-to-peer collaboration, create sales opportunities, and match startups with interested investors.
When designing innovation centres, think about appealing to and catering for the broadest array of participants possible. The best products and services are designed and delivered by a diverse group of creators and decision-makers.
Accordingly, ensure that the innovation centre design has a diverse ‘menu’ that makes it easy for a range of customers to work there. While some customers might need a hot desk for 3 days a month, others will need fixed desks and a large collaboration space, along with graphic design services (for example).
New companies aren’t just looking for a place to work. They also need access to professional services such as legal advice, accounting, branding, human resourcing, and beyond. Accordingly, you can create a more attractive and profitable space by incorporating these services in your innovation centre.
What’s more, innovation centres are usually home to a large number of different businesses, allowing you to deliver these services while benefiting from economies of scale. When you select the right service providers and help them deliver high-quality, as-needed services, the resulting ecosystem is a win for everyone involved.
“Build it and they will come” is no longer a development strategy. To set your commercial buildings apart and gain the attention of your target customers in an increasingly competitive environment, your innovation destination needs to have a strategy to bring it to life.
Successful strategies often include:
Do you have a failing office building? Need to create a supportive space for entrepreneurship and innovation? Want to provide opportunities to underrepresented groups in the technology industry and revitalise regional cities?
Building an innovation centre can answer these challenges – while driving economic recovery, nurturing talent, and bringing commercial returns to your organisation. Cockerton + Co offers the full suite of services from design, space activation, and asset repositioning, to operations with our innovation centre management service.