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Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre fit for the future as first clients move in
An award-winning skincare product company, and a pair of enterprises working with ex-service personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, are among the first clients to move into Cornwall's brand new state-of-the-art business facility focused upon the health and wellbeing sectors.
The £13m Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre (HWIC) has already welcomed seven clients through its doors several weeks ahead of its official opening, with at least a further three due to join them before the unveiling later this month.
Situated at the heart of a group of leading international health institutions on the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust site in Truro, HWIC will be able to support up to 70 businesses and will be aiming to create 80 jobs in the sector.
Operated by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall Council, HWIC is the third multi-million pound centre to be opened in the county to provide clients with access to a supportive and creative communal environment in which they can develop their ideas, accelerate their growth, and create jobs.
Among the first companies to take up space at HWIC includes Spiezia Organics, who are relocating from Helston. In making the move Spiezia will also be able to offer space to their associated charity Made for Life, providing an accessible facility for people who have been diagnosed with cancer and who require integrative support alongside the services provided by the NHS and the Mermaid Centre at Treliske.
Spiezia Organics Managing Director Amanda Barlow said: "We are thrilled to be a part of the brand new Health and Wellbeing Centre - the level of support we have received has been phenomenal. This move provides Spiezia with the perfect opportunity to develop new products and services, while expanding the Made for Life Foundation, providing much needed integrative support for people diagnosed with and recovering from cancer."
The pioneering Innovation Centre project has been led by Cornwall Council, supported by Cornwall Development Company (CDC), with significant investment provided by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme.
Cornwall Council's portfolio holder Carolyn Rule said: "The aim of the Health and Wellbeing Innovation centre is to provide the perfect environment for companies in this vitally important sector to grow and thrive. We know that young companies need access to the right kind of space and facilities if they are to prosper and provide much needed high quality jobs.
"This amazing building will not only provide new businesses with these facilities, it will also encourage clinicians, engineers, designers and scientists to work together to improve the health and wellbeing of people, both in Cornwall and beyond. I am delighted that the first tenants are moving into this flagship centre and look forward to watching their journey."
The HWIC will be looking to emulate the success of the Pool Innovation Centre (PIC), which opened in July 2010 and is exceeding all targets in terms of jobs created and revenue growth of its clients. The Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC) opened in January last year and has already attracted significant numbers of high growth businesses.
Bernard Curren, Director of Cornwall Innovation at the University, said: "We're delighted that HWIC is up and running and already welcoming in new clients. Like Pool and Tremough, its focus will be on innovation, taking businesses and enabling them to develop and better support themselves, creating value, and nurturing commercial enterprise.
"But HWIC is also a first for Cornwall, and we envisage it becoming home to a very eclectic and vibrant community - such as designers of ergonomic furniture, urban space planners, organic skincare product manufacturers, research and development arms of practitioners. We'll also be working closely with the RCHT health cluster and our Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry to provide commercialisation support and spin out space."
HWIC has been funded by the ERDF (£9,993,000) and Cornwall Council (£3,331,001).
Situated at the heart of a group of leading international health institutions on the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust site in Truro, HWIC will be able to support up to 70 businesses and will be aiming to create 80 jobs in the sector.
Operated by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall Council, HWIC is the third multi-million pound centre to be opened in the county to provide clients with access to a supportive and creative communal environment in which they can develop their ideas, accelerate their growth, and create jobs.
Among the first companies to take up space at HWIC includes Spiezia Organics, who are relocating from Helston. In making the move Spiezia will also be able to offer space to their associated charity Made for Life, providing an accessible facility for people who have been diagnosed with cancer and who require integrative support alongside the services provided by the NHS and the Mermaid Centre at Treliske.
Spiezia Organics Managing Director Amanda Barlow said: "We are thrilled to be a part of the brand new Health and Wellbeing Centre - the level of support we have received has been phenomenal. This move provides Spiezia with the perfect opportunity to develop new products and services, while expanding the Made for Life Foundation, providing much needed integrative support for people diagnosed with and recovering from cancer."
The pioneering Innovation Centre project has been led by Cornwall Council, supported by Cornwall Development Company (CDC), with significant investment provided by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme.
Cornwall Council's portfolio holder Carolyn Rule said: "The aim of the Health and Wellbeing Innovation centre is to provide the perfect environment for companies in this vitally important sector to grow and thrive. We know that young companies need access to the right kind of space and facilities if they are to prosper and provide much needed high quality jobs.
"This amazing building will not only provide new businesses with these facilities, it will also encourage clinicians, engineers, designers and scientists to work together to improve the health and wellbeing of people, both in Cornwall and beyond. I am delighted that the first tenants are moving into this flagship centre and look forward to watching their journey."
The HWIC will be looking to emulate the success of the Pool Innovation Centre (PIC), which opened in July 2010 and is exceeding all targets in terms of jobs created and revenue growth of its clients. The Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC) opened in January last year and has already attracted significant numbers of high growth businesses.
Bernard Curren, Director of Cornwall Innovation at the University, said: "We're delighted that HWIC is up and running and already welcoming in new clients. Like Pool and Tremough, its focus will be on innovation, taking businesses and enabling them to develop and better support themselves, creating value, and nurturing commercial enterprise.
"But HWIC is also a first for Cornwall, and we envisage it becoming home to a very eclectic and vibrant community - such as designers of ergonomic furniture, urban space planners, organic skincare product manufacturers, research and development arms of practitioners. We'll also be working closely with the RCHT health cluster and our Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry to provide commercialisation support and spin out space."
HWIC has been funded by the ERDF (£9,993,000) and Cornwall Council (£3,331,001).
