Steelcase Solutions, who opened a showspace on Booth Street in Manchester City Centre in June 2009, will supply a range of coordinating tables, chairs, soft seating and sound-absorbing booths for The Campus, a 5, 000 sq ft communal social space and events area at the centre of the ‘Gold’ zone. With a café and a variety of seating areas, it can comfortably accommodate up to 200 people. Membership for The Campus will be available from March.

Ross Miller from Steelcase Solutions said: “It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to work with The Sharp Project to deliver a vibrant but functional space that will grow along with The Campus. It is unlike anything else in the region so far and we are proud to be a part of it.”

Sue Woodward, Director of The Sharp Project said: “It’s great to have created this partnership between Steelcase and The Sharp Project. It was important to form an alliance with a highly regarded, design-led furniture supplier who was able to deliver a communal space that could be used equally by both our tenants and The Campus members. This is an attractive, inviting space where digital entrepreneurs and creatives can conduct meetings with clients, grab a sandwich, surf the net or simply network. The layout has been cleverly designed to encourage interaction, enabling people to get to know their neighbours and make new business contacts naturally.”

The Campus will be open from 1st April 2012 with a taster month of activity in March.  For more information on The Sharp Project visit www.thesharpproject.co.uk and for more information on Steelcase visit www.steelcase.co.uk.

If you would like to sign up for further information about The Campus please click here

The Sharp Project, east Manchester’s digital content production complex, has reached an important milestone following the signing of nine new tenants taking the total number to 50.

With the tally of tenants reaching 50, over 75 per cent of the office units are now let. In total, the building accommodates 66 work spaces including 26 converted shipping containers in the Red Street space, and 40 office units across Blue and Gold areas.

New occupiers include The Zood, Made in Manchester, Digital Cools, Social Surf Online, Will Yapp, ELP (Elstree Light and Power), Dig Marketing, Paramount Media and Vibe Republic.

One of the companies that has just moved in, content marketing specialists Dig Marketing, chose The Sharp Project because of their ability to tap into the wealth of talent based there.

Tim Bilsborough, formed the company three months ago with business partner, Gabrielle O’Hare, and between them have 40 years’ experience working in advertising and production at the North West’s leading agencies.

Tim Bilsborough explained: “Having such a diverse range of digital companies literally outside our door is fantastic and made our decision to move here an easy one.  We love the niche entrepreneurial spirit that has been created and want to pull on the resources right here all under this roof and offer our clients a truly unique service.  We’re in the business of selling tailored ideas to companies, particularly in the retail sector, and we know we can find people within the building that can make the ideas happen.”

Rose Marley, General Manager of The Sharp Project added: “Reaching this milestone is a great way of rounding off a fantastic year for The Sharp Project. With 50 of the 66 office units now occupied, we are creating a thriving community of digital entrepreneurs. This clearly demonstrates that the digital and creative media sector is flourishing here in the North West despite the current economic downturn.  There has never been a more exciting time to work in this field with so many opportunities available to small digital businesses and young start-ups.”

Eddie Smith, chief executive for New East Manchester who oversee the delivery of The Sharp Project on behalf of landlords Manchester City Council said: “We’ve delivered a fantastic environment for young digital start-ups and the amount of interest in our facilities is testament to this. Having reached a 75 per cent occupancy rate on the office units is great news. With The Campus opening next year, 2012 is set to be another exciting year for The Sharp Project.”

BBC North, MediaCityUK, Corridor Manchester and THE SHARP PROJECT are the first attendees to be announced for the Creative and Digital Summit of Manchester.

THE SHARP PROJECT will host Manchester’s first Creative and Digital Summit in conjunction with Manchester City Council, Arts Council England and the industry.

THE SUMMIT will identify and define the region’s global market opportunity and create a shared plan to implement a joint strategy for growth. THE SUMMIT will be held on 29th June 2011 at THE SHARP PROJECT.

“THE SUMMIT aims to provide Manchester with a strategic development plan by the industry and for the industry that the industry drives forward,” comments THE SHARP PROJECT Director Sue Woodward. “It is vital that we work together to compete internationally and we are delighted that key individuals have signed up so quickly and enthusiastically to that vision.”

Mark Harrison, Controller of Production, BBC North; Sinead Greenaway Chief Executive, The Studios, MediaCityUK and Dave Moutrey, Director of The Cornerhouse and Board Member of Corridor Manchester, have all committed to attending THE SUMMIT on the afternoon of the 001 Event of THE SHARP PROJECT.

Ahead of THE SUMMIT a select group of Greater Manchester’s innovative creative and digital companies will participate in a BASECAMP conversation on 17th June 2011 at THE SHARP PROJECT to discuss how to grow the Creative and Digital Sector, from the Manchester City region, in a globally competitive market.

The ideas, comments and debate sparked at BASECAMP will inform the conversation at THE SUMMIT between a group of key national and international “market makers” who can strategically enable, support and promote the outcomes of both BASECAMP and THE SUMMIT.

Both the BASECAMP and THE SUMMIT will be hosted at THE SHARP PROJECT.

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SHARP PROJECT

The Sharp Project in East Manchester has signed up a new tenant, Liverpool-based Lime Pictures Ltd, the makers of Hollyoaks, together with Objective Productions, for its 30, 000 sq ft production stage. The space will be used to film a new Channel 4 comedy drama, Fresh Meat, which will follow student housemates as they embark on their first-year university education in Manchester.

The post-watershed eight × 45-minute episode series has been created by Peep Show’s Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, who are also lead writers. The project will be jointly produced by All3Media indies Lime Pictures and Objective Productions. The space has been hired for a 28-week period. Set build will start later this month.

Group Head of Production at Lime Pictures, Jamie Hall, said: “The Sharp Project makes the perfect base for a comedy drama set in the North.  Lime and Objective’s aspiration is to create a hit show for Channel 4 that becomes a long-running returning series. It’s particularly exciting to be part of this fascinating initiative at this embryonic stage, which is creating a unique community for digital start-ups.  It’s also great to work with Sue Woodward and her team again.”

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:  “It’s fantastic that The Sharp Project is now attracting the attention of some of the UK’s leading television production companies.  To secure this major production is very exciting and ensures another northern-based series is filmed in Manchester.”

Sue Woodward OBE, Director of The Sharp Project said: “This is another coup for The Sharp Project.  Yet again to be selected as the base for a high profile drama is excellent news. These guys have ambitious plans for this production and we’re pleased to be able to accommodate their needs.  We share their aspirations and by working together we hope another long-running comedy drama can come out of Manchester.”

The Sharp Project, based at the former Sharp warehouse less than ten minutes from Manchester city centre is nearing completion.  The facility offers a unique mix of space, from office accommodation in converted shipping containers, to offices complete with skylights and mezzanine views over a central campus. The fully glazed ‘Winter Garden’ will also provide around 5,000 sq ft of rehearsal/event space. Two other sounds stages of 4,000 and 28,000 square feet complete the offer.

Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:
“In a short space of time The Sharp Project has positioned itself as a highly attractive base for creative and digital businesses. This is an excellent facility bringing new life and economic benefits into the heart of east Manchester.”

David Malpass, Head of the European Programme at the NWDA, said:
“There is a lot of excitement around The Sharp Project based on its unique accommodation offer and high quality of facilities. It is gaining an excellent reputation and the partnership with Lime Pictures will spread the message even further.

The Project is funded by Manchester City Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the European Regional Development Fund.

Led by urban regeneration company New East Manchester and project managed by Mace, Bramall Construction is undertaking the construction work on the refurbished building that has been designed by PRP Architects.

The building is located on Thorp Road, off Oldham Road and next to Central Park’s Gateway transport interchange, which includes a Metrolink station, due to open this spring.

Notes to editors

New East Manchester (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company – a partnership between Manchester City Council, the national housing and regeneration agency Homes & Communities Agency and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).  It is NEM’s role to turn the Regeneration Framework into action, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects and co-ordinate regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.

The Sharp Project is in a refurbished Sharp Electronics warehouse off Oldham Road in Newton Heath, East Manchester. It is a new type of digital content production complex which creates a unique hub for digital and creative businesses. This not-for-profit initiative, led by urban regeneration company, New East Manchester on behalf of site owners Manchester City Council, provides a new environment for Manchester’s raw, young start-ups and established professionals in the digital and creative sector. The building offers 200,000 sq ft of flexible and affordable workspace, sound stages, and social interactive space in an innovative environment with affordable fast connectivity starting at 1GB. It is open 24/7 with links to global partners able to deliver a ‘chase the sun’ Virtual Super Studio, 24 hour continuous production circuit for international projects. Visit www.thesharpproject.co.uk for more details.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the Northwest. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise
and employment.

ERDF in the Northwest is managed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

For further information please visit www.erdfnw.co.uk