Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway is the home for innovative and technology-focused businesses.
Located on the University of Essex, Colchester campus, our thriving innovation centre provides flexible office space to rent, coworking, and spacious meeting and conferencing facilities – all of which include mentoring and strategic business support, and access to world-class research, resources and learning at the University of Essex.
If you’re an innovative start-up or growing business, this is the place to be.
Private Office Space
Everything you’d expect from a fully-serviced office, available in a range of sizes to suit your business as it flexes and grows. A place where you want your company to be and place where you want your clients to see.
A dedicated customer experience/reception service
Access to free on-site business support
Mail and call-handling services
Free high speed Wi-FI
Access to kitchen with free tea and coffee making facilities
Access to coworking spaces
Free access to events held at the centre
Discount on meeting room rates
On-site car parking*
*Subject to license and availability
Dedicated Desks
If it’s just you, but you want a permanent working space outside your home in the company of similar-thinking individuals.
From £200 per month you will get:
Your own personal station in a shared space
Secure pedestal for securing your business valuables
Free Wi-Fi, use of copier, printer and scanner
Inclusive on-site business support
Access to kitchen with free tea and coffee making facilities
Discount on meeting room rates
Free access to all events held in the centre
Coworking Space
If you don’t need a permanent desk but want the option of using our COVID-secure facilities.
From £125 per month you will get:
Choice of tables and chairs in our shared co-working space
Free Wi-Fi, use of copier, printer and scanner
Free access to all business support and social events held in the centre
A place to meet clients and network with local business experts
Virtual Offices
If you want the professional image but don’t need a physical space to work.
From £55 per month you will get:
Prestigious company address
Mail forwarding
Call handling
Access to free on-site business support
Discounted meeting room hire
Sector focus and community profile
ICKG is at the heart of the growing ‘innovation and tech’ cluster in Essex. Collocated with Essex StartUps, it is based at the Knowledge Gateway research and technology park, on the University of Essex campus in Colchester – an official University Enterprise Zone designated by the Government as a centre for nurturing and supporting new digital and creative businesses.
This means that Innovation Centre customers can benefit from short and long-term support from students and academics, as well access to cutting-edge research, equipment, expertise and facilities.
Free Business Support & Expertise
It’s a challenge running any business, especially during times of uncertainty or when you’re just starting out. That’s why we offer a completely free package of business support to each and every customer, to help you with everything you need to succeed.
One-to-one business support
- Connect with external experts and potential clients
- Access to support programmes
- Virtual and in-person business masterclasses
- Networking opportunities
- Support is provided to our customers via an array of mechanisms. Our onsite Innovation Director provides 1:1 support and support via diagnostics (utilising GrowthMapper), needs analysis (business and innovation), partner matching and collaboration opportunities between centre customers and by plugging into the centre’s ecosystem, comprising external support from University of Essex, EEN, IUK, KTN, TechEast, Amazon Wed Services and DIT.
Oxford Innovation Space
Being part of Oxford Innovation Space: 36 years in the making
- Founded by The Oxford Trust to provide support to science, technology and knowledge-led early-stage companies
- We are the largest operator of innovation centres across the UK and Ireland – we have over 35 years of experience of running spaces and places to support SMEs and entrepreneurs
- Our clients are universities, research & major science site owners, public sector, private investors and charities
- We deliver a range of objectives; support to high-growth SMEs & spin outs, on-going revenue and financial sustainability, economic development, jobs growth, profile and business engagement
- Our business support team have a wealth of business experience within the start-up and scaleup environment
For a full listing of Oxford Innovation Space Centres, please visit the website at www.oxfordinnovationspace.co.uk