Ten years of transformational development has culminated in the opening of the final building to complete Hull’s £22 million @TheDock tech campus.
The fifth addition from Wykeland takes the beating heart of the Fruit Market to a 1,000 capacity hub of digital operations, bringing together a fragmented community with a focal point and flagship for the burgeoning sector. Business leaders, politicians and members of the tech-led community came together to celebrate the regeneration at the once-derelict site on the city’s waterfront last week, and now the final element has been officially unveiled.
Wykeland managing director, Dominic Gibbons, said: “The opening of the final @TheDock building completes a story of sustained investment and development, which has seen a derelict site transformed into a hub of innovation and collaboration.
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“When we first began this project, the tech community in Hull was disparate. We wanted to create a place where tech specialists could come together and spark ideas, to help traditional businesses embrace technological change and drive economic growth.
“This development is the result of so many people, businesses and organisations working collaboratively together to create a thriving tech campus recognised as one of the most successful anywhere in the UK.
“We’re incredibly proud to see what @TheDock has become and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the businesses and partners who have been part of this journey.”
@TheDock’s roots stretch back to 2013, with the launch of the C4DI Beta test site at his company’s offices in Queen Street in the Fruit Market. Working with key stakeholders, including KCom on the pioneering full-fibre broadband roll-out, as well as the University of Hull, C4DI Beta provided a home for tech specialists to collaborate and innovate. Early success led to construction of the first C4DI building, which opened in 2015.
In the years that followed, three more buildings cemented the @TheDock campus as a flourishing tech community. Companies including Saab Technologies, payment tech provider Dojo, healthcare tech specialist Vertual and digital performance marketing agency Summit now call @TheDock their home. Completion of the final building at the @TheDock site is the last piece in the development jigsaw.
C4DI co-founder and managing director John Connolly said: “The core aim of what we set out to do hasn’t changed. The unique model of C4DI is centred around building bridges between large traditional businesses looking to innovate and adopt new technology, and scale-up businesses keen to grow their businesses by working with those large organisations.
“It is this activity that changes economies and build jobs and wealth, not only in the tech businesses, but also in the traditional companies they are serving. The end result is the UK’s largest privately-run tech incubator, recognised nationally for the size and scale of investment it generates and the quality of collaboration that takes place.”
Hosted by former BBC Radio Humberside presenter David Burns, the event heard key figures including Mr Gibbons, Mr Connolly and KCom chief executive Tim Shaw reflect on the positive impact @TheDock has had on the city.
Smart tech business Sauce has been part of C4DI from its origins. Technical director and co-founder John Polling said: “As a business which has been based at C4DI since the building opened, we’ve seen the @TheDock campus grow around us. It’s been the perfect place for us, working around like-minded people and sharing ideas and expertise. We’ve worked with major businesses, including Ideal Heating and Siemens Gamesa. That simply wouldn’t have happened without the support of the C4DI community.”
The opening of the final @TheDock building brings a further 11,000 sq ft of prime office space to the campus, creating the opportunity for 150 more highly-skilled tech jobs.
With renewable energy from rooftop solar panels, and air source heat pumps powering the heating and cooling system, the building is rated BREEAM - Very Good, a sustainability rating that puts it in the top 25 per cent nationally for non-domestic buildings.
A special celebration event was held to open the final building and mark 10 years of transformation since C4DI Beta with the community and stakeholders. Hosted by former BBC Radio Humberside presenter David Burns, the event heard key figures including Mr Gibbons, Mr Connolly and KCom chief executive Tim Shaw reflect on the positive impact @TheDock has had on the city.
