A WAVE of new businesses have set up in The Catalyst, the latest addition to York Science Park in the University of York’s £500 million campus extension.
The Catalyst, an incubation centre for creative, IT, digital and media businesses, alongside the site’s other flagship building, the Ron Cooke Hub, were developed to help support start-up and early-stage businesses, and include incubator units and space for cutting edge research centres in the city.
The first businesses to move into the new centre include iThinkSmarter, which designs and develops self-help guides for mobile phones, using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to advise on problems, such as work stress, anxiety and depression.
Tony Free, business, licence and digital media director of iThinkSmarter, said they were excited to be part of the wider environment in the Science Park of creative and digital businesses.
He said: “It is of tremendous importance to us to move into such a new development as The Catalyst, as we will be close to the companies who are developing in digital media and to emerging new talents in the academic and business fields. We are very excited to be part of it.”
Helen Burke, director of Dream Team Development, another of the newly located businesses, which has 150 years combined experience of developing businesses, said: “The innovative and creative style of the building provides us with excellent opportunities to mix with like-minded companies.”
Video company Magnetic Buzz, and Business Transformer, which helps business plan and mentors business leaders, have also moved into the 2,755 sq metre serviced office space.
York Science Park managing director Tracey Smith said: “It was fantastic to witness the doors open to The Catalyst, the exciting new addition to the Science Park and to welcome such a diverse range of new businesses from across the media, digital, IT and creative sectors. I’m eager to witness these grow and flourish and look forward to welcoming more new businesses into the stimulating environment that The Catalyst offers.”
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