Energy disruptor expands into bigger premises at science park
Manchester energy market disruptor, UrbanChain, has moved to the 91,000 sq ft Base at Manchester Science Park.
Having signed a five-year lease to take 4,000 sq ft at Base, UrbanChain says its new headquarters, situated in the heart of Manchester’s knowledge quarter, will help it recruit the talent it needs to match its expansion ambitions.
Working closely with the Bruntwood SciTech team to design and fit-out the new office space, the move represents a new chapter of sophistication for the business as it embarks on further growth, it said.
Backed by European investment group, Eurazeo, UrbanChain says it decouples renewable energy and consumers from the volatile wholesale market, creating an alternative market with renewables to sell directly to people, making green energy viable without subsidies and affordable for all.
Office buildings, data centres, hospitals, universities, housing associations, energy suppliers, industrial sites, local authorities and green energy generators all trade within the regulated platform which is blockchain-backed and powered by AI.
Aligning to UrbanChain’s own ethos and focus on green energy, Base benefits from a number of sustainability measures and operates at Net Zero Carbon across the building’s communal areas.
Other measures include an A-rated EPC, 704 sq m of PV solar power, a hybrid heating and cooling system, and use of recycled materials to create alternative flooring finishes.
Somayeh Taheri, founder and CEO of UrbanChain, said: “Ofgem granted UrbanChain an electricity supply licence a handful of weeks ago, triggering another breakthrough in our journey.
“As we also now embark on a Series B fundraise, we feel we have a working environment which aligns our talented workforce with our UK and international growth strategy.”
Josh Whiteley, Commercial Director for Bruntwood SciTech, welcomed Urban Chain, saying: “From starting out with a single desk at our Manchester Technology Centre at Circle Square in 2018, we’ve witnessed them go from strength to strength – growing with us, expanding into various spaces within the park, before reaching this milestone and settling in our state-of-the-art office development, Base.”
Manchester Science Park is home to more than 150 businesses working in areas such as industry 4.0, software engineering and development, energy, diagnostics and medical technology.
