Catalyst for new ideas attracts first tenants

Four firms have set up bases in The Catalyst, a £4.2m high-spec office space at the University of York, which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the long-term.

iThinkSmarter, which has developed an app for smart phones with a guide to common psychological problems, Magnetic Buzz, which makes promotional videos for companies, Business Transformer, which helps firms grow quickly and manage change, and Dream Team Development, a business consultancy, will all have access to the serviced and managed office space.

The Catalyst, a 2,755 sq m on-campus business incubation facility, which is managed by York Science Park to support the growth of businesses in the digital, IT, creative and media sectors, also provides hot-desking, conference and meeting room facilities.

Tracey Smith, managing director of the 21-acre York Science Park, said the economic outlook and difficulty of getting bank loans meant people are concerned about the risks of opening a business but there remain many opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

“It was fantastic to witness the doors open to The Catalyst and to welcome such a diverse range of new businesses from across the media, digital, IT and creative sectors. I’m eager to witness these grow and flourish and look forward to welcoming more new businesses into the stimulating environment that The Catalyst offers.

“We are in talks with other (possible) tenants. We have created a lot of interest and our enquiries have increased. The challenge is pulling that into signed licences.”

The centre offers short-term leases of six or 12 months, which can be renewed, in an attempt to make conditions easier for the people behind young businesses.

“Some of them are professionals that are leaving their jobs and starting up on their own. That is what we want to encourage – people who (may) have had difficulties in their career but now is a really good time to start up.

“Quite often business people have that burning idea they’ve always wish they had done. We can help them to do that.

“There is a lot of support (available) from people like Science City York, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and York Professionals.

“The benefit of being in a place like The Catalyst is the community spirit – get a few of the companies starting up together and they feed off each other.

“They can share ideas and best practice.

“There is such an opportunity for knowledge transfer and there are so many different programmes the university is running.”

Tony Free, business, licence and digital media director of iThinkSmarter, said: “It is of tremendous importance to us to move into such a new development as The Catalyst, as we will be close to the companies who are developing in digital media and to emerging new talents in the academic and business fields. We are very excited to be part of it.”

Mr Free’s business uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches in the mobile health market.

It provides an app offering a free guide to common psychological problems such as work stress, anxiety and depression, with regular updates and customer feedback, and the option to buy a personalised and interactive CBT self-help treatment.

Magnetic Buzz makes videos for product launches and sales presentation, marketing campaigns, seminars, exhibitions and web promotion.

Business Transformer offers services including strategic planning, coaching and mentoring and improving business expertise.

Professor Colin Mellors, the pro-vice chancellor of the University of York, has previously said The Catalyst will create around 200 jobs by 2014.

Prof Mellors believes occupiers of the hub and Catalyst would benefit from being close to the university’s departments of computer science, law and management, and theatre, film and television.

The entrepreneurs would find it easier to make informal ties with academics who might provide them with ideas for developing their business, he argued.

He added: “Serendipity has often produced some of the most interesting results.”

York Science Park

York Science Park was set up to support the development of businesses ranging from start-ups to large corporations.

All the firms using it have a close exchange of expertise with the University of York.

The park has purpose built incubation space with around 112,000 sq ft of specialist facilities including the innovation, bio and IT centres and Enterprise House, making York the first British science park to offer dedicated IT, bio and knowledge based incubation space on a single site.

The University of York was founded in 1963 with 200 students. Today it has more than 12,000 students and more than 30 academic departments and research centres.