Travel writer, adventurer and motorbike enthusiast Charley Boorman is travelling to Northampton in April to launch the town’s Portfolio Innovation Centre – a newly expanded Centre dedicated to supporting design, digital and creative business in the region.
Charley, who took part in ‘Long Way Round’, a much publicised motorcycle trip from London to New York via Europe and Asia with fellow actor and best friend Ewan McGregor in 2004, will be pulling into Northampton on April 24th to meet the Centre’s resident businesses and officially launch Portfolio’s £3million expansion – which has seen the Centre treble in size in the last six months.
As part of the launch all businesses already based at Portfolio will be opening their doors – treating Charley and more than 100 guests to drop-in sessions and workshops with the resident photographers, marketers, illustrators, designers and website optimisers. Guests will also be able to play an award winning computer game – designed by one of the tenant businesses – get software design tips, see painters in action, try their hand at ceramics and see film editing in progress
Centre Manager, Wendy Nikolaidis, said: “Marking the expansion of Portfolio is an exciting moment for the region’s creative and business community. There is no longer any reason for design, digital and creative companies to leave this county. At Portfolio Innovation Centre we are set up to support and nurture dynamic and vibrant businesses. Our tenants are part of a creative and highly innovative business community and this, along with our exceptional facilities, affordable rent and flexible leases, is helping each and every one become an established, profitable success story.”
Portfolio Innovation Centre, which first opened in 2006 as a single storey building, has now expanded into a three floor Centre, complete with 46 studios and offices. It is based on The University of Northampton’s Avenue Campus which enables tenants to access University facilities and expertise.
Businesses already calling Portfolio their home include a book illustrator, graphic designers, computer games developers and toy designers, web designers, a screen printer, ceramics maker, media training company, a textile design studio, an online auction company, photographers, 3D graphic designers, software developers and film makers. Anglia TV has opened new offices at the Centre and many more businesses have reserved their workspace and are getting set to move in.
Portfolio was able to expand thanks to funding from West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), Arts Council East Midlands and Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd (NEL).
As well studios and offices the new look Centre also has hot desk areas, kitchen and meeting room facilities, beautifully designed rooms with sweeping views across Northampton, an IP telephony system and fast secure broadband, plus.a state-of-the-art meeting room which caters for over 50 people at any one time.
Wendy added: “There are more than 1,800 creative industries in Northamptonshire and the sector brings around £610million into the region’s economy. The Portfolio Innovation Centre is at the heart of this success and we pride ourselves on offering both established and start-up companies an environment which provides all the tools, advice and resources needed to achieve and exceed business potential. The Centre nurtures talent and helps companies succeed.”