Incubators & managed workspace
Practical experience of developing & managing incubator workspace
Irwin Grayson Associates undertakes feasibility studies for local authorities, governments and others for incubator and managed workspace as well as providing support to implement workspace projects and raise funds.
David Irwin was Chairman, until March
2000, of Project North East's workspace subsidiary, North East Workspace Ltd which has
refurbished a number of redundant buildings and brought them back into use as incubators targeting small
and growing businesses, providing 10,000 sq m divided into 200 units, including the redevelopment
of a key site within the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Whilst at PNE, David was commissioned
by the Burton Group to prepare ideas to bring back into use a redundant building in Gateshead.
He developed and researched ideas, eventually culminating in £1.75m conversion to create Design Works.
Growing agri-business through incubation (2009)
"Growing Agri-Business through incubation: review of incubator workspace in Africa" was commissioned by the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide an overview of business incubators in sub-Saharan Africa and, in
particular, to consider how effective provision in Africa of incubator workspace could make a real difference
in improving business success rates for businesses starting and working in agri-processing supply chains. Our
conclusion was that - at the time of the study - incubator workspace was under-developed in Africa. The
overall stock of workspace seemed small relative to the potential economic role of this development vehicle.
Space provision, service provision and management also appeared to be sub-optimal in some cases.Small Enterprises Development Company, Swaziland (1999-2001)
Partnered with Coffey (now Tetra Tech) to provide assistance to
Swailand's Small Enterprises Development Company (SEDCO) to enable them to complete a strategic
review and then to provide capacity building for staff to assist them to implement successfully
the recommendations – for all of their small business support services but with with particular
emphasis on the development of their workspace activities.
Incubator workspace feasibility studies (2004-2006)
Working with associate, Annabel Jackson, I undertook feasibility studies for a large number of incubator and managed workspace projects and incubation projects, including:- West Oxfordshire District Council (2005)
- Gravesham District Council (2004)
- Stratford on Avon District Council (2004)
- Wychavon District Council (2004)
- Darlington Borough Council (1999)
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