Shelby Group is proud to have worked on a new high-tech office block within the heart of Manchester. The Co-operative Group has launched The Federation, a new communal office space for the next generation of technology companies.
Tony Simmonds, of Shelby Group, project managed the conversion of this former textile warehouse on Federation Street over the past year. Victoria Howlett, who manages The Federation for Co-op Digital, thanked Tony Simmonds for his work on the scheme. She said: “Not only was he integral in getting the project completed by the launch date, which would not have been possible without him, but his support to The Federation team was beyond any of our expectations. Tony was a pleasure to work with and felt part of The Federation team from start to finish.”
The Co-op has taken leases on eight floors, totalling 8,100 sq. ft., at the Federation Building, investing £1.6m into fitting out the space and a further £0.5m in start-up operating costs. The space is aimed at technology companies exploring alternative economic models such as co-operatives, community interest groups and social enterprise. The Co-op’s digital team has worked on two floors in the building since October 2016.
Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-operative Group, said: “From the outset we decided that we wanted to share this building with others, creating a physical space for responsible digital innovation, where good practice is shared and celebrated, and where digital pioneers can learn from each other.
“However, it’s much more than a space, the Federation will actively encourage businesses to invest and grow, using technology to deliver positive change, from connecting young people with opportunities, reaching out to schools to specifically address diversity in science, technology engineering and maths, to providing subsidised access for a public events programme that will concentrate on key elements in the digital economy and society, with particular emphasis on open data.
“The Federation is a cornerstone in the creation of a movement for social change and economic responsibility, helping to cement Manchester’s well-established reputation in the digital world. This is because of who we are and how we’re owned. We know that the world
The Federation was voted within the top 5 most inspired workspaces in the North in a recent poll: https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/inspired-spaces-north/2017/11/inspired-spaces-north-2017-winner-and-top-10-revealed
