Creative community hub to open in Leamington Spa
A new shared workspace with “state-of-the-art” production studios will open its doors in Leamington Spa next summer.
The Fold – a 14,000 sq ft Grade II listed church will be a hub for the creative community, where copywriters, designers, developers, and content creators can connect through a membership.
Developed by Cogent, The Fold will be built over three floors, with six production facilities, including a virtual studio, foley suite, edit facilities, recording booths and a new tech testing lab – all of which will be available to members and the wider creative community – for dry hire.
The Fold will also be the new campus for the SAE Institute, a global specialist provider of creative media education, allowing SAE UK to provide grounds for its students alongside networking opportunities and work experience.
Steffan Davies the managing director at SAE Europe said Leamington Spa is the: “perfect locations as one of the ‘creative clusters’ identified by the Government in the UK Creative Industry landscape.”
“SAE campuses reflect professional environments and include industry-grade production facilities. Students undertake project briefs co-created with industry partners using a practical ‘creative studio’ approach, with collaboration encouraged across all creative media disciplines.
“SAE Leamington Spa will provide students with a new and exciting pathway into employment and future success within the creative media industries.”
Cogent, an independent marketing agency has worked in the Midlands’ creative industry for more than 90 years, working with clients such as Bacofoil, Virgin, Volvo, Spoticar, Wolseley, Aldo, and National Grid ESO.
Bruce Hutton, Chief Executive at Cogent said: “The Fold will be at the heart of a unique creative community – a beacon of talent and innovation.
“We’re aiming to provide the exciting environment for all the things you can’t do as brilliantly in a work from home setting.
“That includes networking for business, collaborating on projects, discussing solutions to problems, hosting thought-provoking training sessions and inspirational events, coaching newer team members, and of course socialising.”
“We will provide a space to be at your absolute best, all in an eye-catching hospitality and production venue where you’ll want to spend time in.”
The Fold is being realised by Complex Development Projects (CDP), which was appointed by Warwick District Council in December 2017 to deliver a master plan that would shape Leamington Spa’s Creative Quarter.
Katie Burn, senior development executive at CDP, said: “The buildings have been unused for decades and their restoration and conversion would not have been possible without our firm partnership with WDC and the grant that was secured from the Future High Streets Fund.”
“We are excited to deliver this much-needed space in collaboration with Cogent, which will provide a catalyst for further growth and regeneration in the south of the town as well as boosting the economy.”
