Second facility for city's start-up scheme

A START-UP zone for creative businesses in Plymouth has gone from strength to strength, sparking the opening of a second business incubation facility.

The success of Formation Zone, based at the University of Plymouth's Roland Levinsky Building, has seen the recent introduction of Formation 2.0.

The new facility caters for businesses involved in science, technology, engineering and maths, and has been up-and-running for around two months.

IT recruitment company Aardvark Consulting went to Formation Zone in September last year to develop the digital media area of the business.

The IT and digital media recruitment specialist had been in Formation Zone for around a year, and has employed two further members of staff, business developer Shaun McNeill and recruitment consultant Richard Crapp.

It has recently moved to the Formation 2.0 space at the university's Link Building.

Director Sarah Symonds worked alone at home for two years after founding the company.

She said: "The zone's really helped me get focused. I made use of the business advice and coaching has been really good.

"We've had students that have come in and done work experience and it's been a really good experience so far."

She said Aardvark's clients include IBM, Accenture, CSC and Fujitsu.

Eleanor Butland, Formation Zone's programme manager, said the zone, which has been working with businesses for 20 months, was about incubating businesses, and was not a long-term office solution.

There is a three-year limit for businesses to be housed in the zone, but in practice most businesses stay in there for six to 18 months before moving to other premises, she said.

"At the moment, we're working with 18 different entrepreneurs and all but three are based here," she added.

"The three that aren't come in for support and a virtual service. The number changes every month, but we have about 14 entrepreneurs that are based here and 21 desks."

She said that to join Formation Zone, businesses must be working in the creative sector and trying to progress their ideas to the highest standard.

Eleanor said: "We're at capacity for the first time, which is great. I have three allocations pending at the moment and the chances are, we'll be able to fit them in over the next three months.

"It's not static and there are always fresh people; clients often work with each other, use each other's skills and collaborate."

One such company is Fuel Communications, which started in the zone in April last year and has this year taken on two full-time employees.

Creative director Dave Smith described the business as an integrated marketing, design, public relations and web design agency.

Dave, a former Plymouth College of Art and Design student, said the business was a result of a merger between his former company Fresh Design & Marketing and Complete Profile.

He joined forces with former Complete Profile directors Steve Gyseman and Martyn King to launch Fuel Communications.

He explained: "We were forming the business and looking for premises and we heard about Formation Zone, came in to see them and started working here. "For us, there are a lot of benefits – we're privileged to be in a really good location and it's excellent for showing new clients around. We get great support from the university with funding and advice."

He said the company, which has five employees including the three directors, was in a position to hire two more.

Clients include Foot Anstey, the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth Pavilions, HSBC Commercial and Langage Farm, he added.

Another company based in the zone is Mutant Labs, whose founders met while studying Digital Art and Technology at the University of Plymouth.

After working on a module together to develop a game and start a business, they decided they would start their own business when the course finished.

They went to the zone in June for support to start their company and combine web design with interactive Flash work and the development of iPhone applications.

The five directors, who all graduated over the summer, are Ben Reynhart, Chris Mayoh, Rich Searle, Alex Ryley and Andrew Sargeant. The business launched on August 30, and already has clients such as Chew TV, Forces Nutrition, the Real Ideas Organisation (RIO), University of Plymouth Students Union (UPSU) and the University of Plymouth.

The entrepreneurs are currently working with Fuel Communications on a Flash project.

Ben said: "We've been getting loads of support from Formation Zone and were collaborating with fuel on a Flash project. It's really good, having ties with the university. The location's good and there's an opportunity to network."

Creative enterprise specialist Karin Jordan, of ArtsMatrix, helps the entrepreneurs with one-to-one guidance sessions and is at the site for three days a week.

She explained that ArtsMatrix is a skills and enterprise development agency for creative professionals in the South West.

She said: "We're trying to help anyone who is working creatively to turn their talent and passion into a creative and financial success. We work with anyone who wants to work creatively at any stage of their career."

For more information about ArtsMatrix, visit www.artsmatrix.org.uk.

The Formation Zone's rates are £150 a month for a full-time desk and for entrepreneurs trying to develop their ideas, a 20 day package is available offering desk space and support for £50.

University of Plymouth marketing officer Emma Wright said that thanks to funding from the Government's Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF), businesses could apply for £3,500 worth of vouchers for all the university's services and facilities, while individuals could apply for up to £1,500.

For more information about the Formation Zone, visit www.formationzone.co.uk.