New retail space in York opens

A community project which has retail and food space within shipping containers in York opened on Friday after receiving £150,000 funding.

Tom McKenzie and Sam Leach founded Spark:York in the Picadilliy area of the city. They secured three £50,000 loans from the Business Enterprise Fund, which were used for building works and pulling the site together, which is now home to 23 independent businesses.

Their idea came from travelling around Europe seeing box parks and community and street food markets. Spark:York is a retail and food hub made from shipping containers.

McKenzie, co-founder and director at Spark:York, said: “We currently have two part-time employees working with Sam and I but after the first month of being open we’re planning to expand our team significantly. Alongside the other businesses and retailers here at Spark:York, we’re hoping to bring 100 new jobs to the area.

The Business Enterprise Fund has an office on Blake Street in York and provides funding for businesses across Yorkshire and the North East.

Andy Clough, investment manager at BEF, said: “What a fantastic and inspirational duo! Sam and Tom worked incredibly hard and I’m so proud to have played a part in helping make their dream come through. Spark:York is dedicated to bringing positive change to the area and it’s so encouraging to see – if all companies took a similar approach to business, think of the impact it could make.”