A new co-working space carved out of the multi-million pound transformation of a shopping centre is set to welcome its first entrepreneurs.
Work to turn half of the first floor of the Pentagon in Chatham into an “Innovation Hub”, got underway earlier this year.
The project, to be known as the Ascend centre, was awarded £1.8million towards its delivery in the hope of it becoming an “invaluable springboard” for new business opportunities in the Towns.
It has seen part of the mall made into a mixed co-working and private office space with high-speed broadband and meeting rooms.
A preview event took place on Friday, November 1 ahead of its official opening which was hosted by Ascend’s operator Edgility, who were joined by representatives from Medway Council, the designers and those involved in construction of the hub.
Those who attended were given a tour of the site and learnt about upcoming programmes that the business will offer.
Cllr Simon Curry, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration, said: “We want to say a big thank you to everyone who’s been involved in the creation of Ascend, which is going to be an amazing home for Medway businesses and an exciting place to be in the next few years.
“I hope the hub becomes an invaluable springboard for new initiatives and will soon be established as an important centre for business in Chatham.”
It’s hoped the new centre will open opportunities for small-to-medium sized enterprises and other professionals looking for secure workspace away from home.
In addition, all Medway businesses can access free face-to-face business support, from marketing to help with funding applications.
Sessions are available each week and can be booked online here.
The centre has been created thanks to funding secured from the government’s Future High Streets Fund, investment from Medway Council, and funding from the South-East Local Enterprise Partnership’s (SELEP) Getting Building Fund.
Onsite works were delivered by Form Fit Out, a London-based office-space specialist, and the site will be run by Edgility, in partnership with Kiln, who will be responsible for managing bookings and the facilities on a day-to-day basis.
The development will share the first floor with the planned £15million healthy living centre which is also planned there and recently received more funding.
Gradually, businesses have moved out of the first floor in preparation for the transformation of the first floor.
Designs were approved at a planning meeting in February.
In their report, planning officers said the proposal would provide significant benefit to the area, increasing footfall for the shopping centre, and would generate a boost for Chatham town centre.
It’s not the first co-working space to launch in the town recently with Platform 26, a co-working space with its own podcast and YouTube studio, opening in Railway Street last month.
With the backing of investors, the owner worked for four years to refit the building and ensure it didn’t instead get turned into flats.