Dame Prue Leith visits Edinburgh Innovation Hub
Last week, Dame Prue Leith, TV judge, entrepreneur and Chancellor of ĢƵ, took a tour of the construction site where the Edinburgh Innovation Hub is being developed on the land around the University campus.
A joint venture between East Lothian Council and ĢƵ (ĢƵ) and funded by the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, the new Hub will be made up of flexible laboratory, office and fully equipped meeting and conference spaces for rent. The facilities and close proximity to the University aims to help attract high growth, small and medium sized enterprises, which may benefit from support from and collaboration opportunities with ĢƵ.
Dame Prue Leith, who was in Edinburgh for ĢƵ’s graduation ceremonies, was on site to see how the ambitious partnership project was developing, and to learn more about how the Innovation Hub, supported by £28.6 million from the UK Government, £1.4 million from the Scottish Government and £10 million from East Lothian Council through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, is bolstering enterprise and economic development. The Deal is supported with £300 million funding from the UK Government and £300 million funding from the Scottish Government.
Sir Paul Grice, Principal of ĢƵ, explained: “We are very excited to see the Edinburgh Innovation Hub starting to take shape in the ground around the University, and to give our Chancellor, Prue Leith, a glimpse into the future.
“Essentially, the 7,200 sqm Hub will bring together research, industry and academia under one roof. The focus is to support businesses that are driven by innovation, knowledge exchange and technology, so that Hub is perfect for attracting businesses which want to grow, and which will generate employment opportunities for others.”
Sir Paul continued: “Along with driving economic development locally and nationally, the Hub will act as a gateway into ĢƵ for businesses, increase opportunities at the University for industry-relevant research and knowledge exchange, promote an entrepreneurial culture, and increase the vibrancy of the area around the campus. The Hub is not just a new building, it will be a new business."
Dame Prue Leith said: “Seeing the site under construction gives you a real appreciation for the thought, imagination, planning, skills, and ambition which is required to create an innovation hub, drawing on the very best practice around.
“As I know from experience, it’s not easy to start and grow a business from scratch. So, I am delighted to see that the Hub will offer more than just physical facilities – it will provide the help, advice and support, and the like-minded business community that start-up and small enterprises need to flourish. I am convinced that in years to come many entrepreneurs will have the Hub to thank for their success.”
The Edinburgh Innovation Hub is supported by £28.6 million from the UK Government, £1.4 million from the Scottish Government and £10 million from East Lothian Council as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (ESES City Region Deal).
Notes to Editor
- The Edinburgh Innovation Hub is supported by £28.6 million from the UK Government, £1.4 million from the Scottish Government and £10 million from East Lothian Council as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (ESES City Region Deal).
- The 52-acre Edinburgh Innovation Park, adjacent to the Edinburgh Innovation Hub, will transform a strategic economic development site, owned by East Lothian Council, into a nationally significant cluster of knowledge exchange, innovation and high value business growth.
- The Hub will help to initiate development of the wider Edinburgh Innovation Park on land adjacent to the ĢƵ campus. The development was granted planning permission in principle in March 2019, as part of a wider mixed-use development, including new homes and a new primary school, business & industry use and community facilities.
- The development of the Edinburgh Innovation Hub is supporting the Scottish Government in its ambitions, set out in the National Innovation Strategy for Scotland, to become one of the most innovative small nations in the world.
For further media information contact Emma Reekie, Media Relations and Content Officer, ĢƵ, Edinburgh, E: ereekie@qmu.ac.uk and copy to press office E: pressoffice@qmu.ac.uk.
