Professionals in the digital and creative industries (including NOW Bath!) could soon have a city centre location where they can run small dynamic technology businesses, exchange ideas and collaborate, following discussions between Bath Spark, Creative Bath and Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The development of the digital and creative industries underpin the Council’s approach to making a success of the Bath City Riverside ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area as it seeks to create up to 2,000 jobs along with 3,500 homes for local people to live.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, is progressing talks with Bath Spark and Creative Bath about providing space for a Creative Hub in light of the fact the Enterprise Area will take a number of years to get off the ground.
She said, “These important industries to the economy of our area tell us they need space for a Creative Hub whilst Bath & North East Somerset Council’s wider plans take shape. We are keen to support and act upon this requirement and are very close to identifying the best site and how the facility would work.
“At this stage, the Guildhall could provide the most likely location once our customer services function is transferred to Lewis House as part of the Council’s plan to improve our Council Connect service for the public. This would be prior to the identification of a permanent home for the Hub.”
Tom Lewis, founder of tech start up networking group BathSPARK said “I feel that this is an incredibly positive development in helping creative and tech businesses to start and grow within the city. As a group, we believe that this progressive and innovative thinking shows a clear commitment from the council to promote contemporary creative and tech talent in Bath, and we are excited to be part of this process.”
Greg Ingham, Chair of Creative Bath: “I warmly applaud the Council’s initiative here. This is an important first move that will help foster new creative and tech jobs in Bath. There’s a clear need to attract and retain this sort of businesses, and we’re very focused on helping deliver a bigger project after this great start.”
The creative sector contributes £220 million to the local economy and supports 6,700 jobs. The Council’s involvement with the creative sector is steadfast – as one of the founders of Creative Bath it financially supports the network to improve prospects in the creative sector, such as linking with the Universities to promote internships and student placements.
