Sharp Project launches membership scheme

THE Sharp Project has launched a membership service that will allow non-tenants to work in its new communal area, The Campus.

Sharp Project will charge from £80 per year to non-tenants including freelance workers, students and other creatives which will give them a regular base with free wi-fi, lockers and a cafe. Membership also provides discounts on meeting room hire. SME and corporate membership also allows a small company to have up to ten people signed in at any one time.

Day passes are also available for £15 + VAT for infrequent visitors to Manchester or for those looking for a trial membership.

The Campus is a 5,000 sq. ft social and events space at the centre of the ‘Gold’ zone, which contains office units over two levels.

Sue Woodward, director of the Sharp Project, said: “This is the final piece in our jigsaw. We are very keen to give creative individuals who are just starting out the ability to benefit from our very own ecosystem, where people meet, companies collaborate and businesses flourish.

The Sharp Project manager Rose Marley added: “Over 40 people have pre-registered for membership but we will limit the capacity in the first instance to allow quality networks to grow.

“We feel it is important to open our doors to a wider section of the creative and digital industry and share with them what has been created for this important sector.  Not everyone needs office space when they are starting out or when they already have an office based elsewhere in the City region, so The Campus membership provides an affordable and flexible alternative venue to work from.”

The Sharp Project is a 200,000 sq ft media facility in east Manchester which is owned by Manchester City Council. It was formally launched last year in a former Sharp Electronics warehouse following a £16.5m investment by the city council, the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.