The team behind much of Liverpool's Baltic Triangle's success has announced it's looking to expand its operations and open "at least" two new digital, creative and tech (DCT) neighbourhoods in Southport and the Fabric District.
As part of the Baltic Creative's 10-year anniversary, the firm that boasts a footprint of 118,000sq ft, and is home to over 180 businesses and 600 staff in the famous Baltic Triangle creative district, has announced a "significant change in direction".
It has said that as part of its growth ambitions, over the next three years, it is aiming to deliver at least two new spaces in Southport and the Fabric District.
The community interest company’s board of directors said they will also "explore opportunities" in North Liverpool, Bootle and Birkenhead, as well as invest in its existing footprint in the Baltic Triangle.
Describing the firm's decade in business as "game-changing", managing director of Baltic Creative CIC, Mark Lawler, said: “What has been achieved over the past 10 years is greater than what we originally thought possible and that is largely down to the dedication of our team and the instant support we received from the digital and creative community.
“There’s no doubt that there are challenges ahead, especially with the current political uncertainty that we’re facing.
"We will of course respond to this in the most appropriate manner, but our plans continue to be bold, and we are more passionate than ever about delivering Baltic Creative space across the region and in doing so, supporting one of the city’s most flourishing sectors.”
What is the Baltic Creative?
From 2009 onwards, the Baltic Creative started converting derelict spaces in the Baltic Triangle into offices and spaces for creative firms.
It secured European funding and cash from the European Regional Development Fund and its work was backed by Liverpool Vision, particularly by its creative sector lead Kevin McManus, and the city council.
But its work really burst into public view in late 2012 when its main campus was opened to the public.
What was a blank warehouse front facing Jamaica Street was opened up, with a coffee shop at the front, steps leading onto the street and the words Baltic Creative above.
Inside was one of the quirkiest office spaces anywhere.
Instead of partitions and suspended ceilings, lots of individual plywood “sheds” were put in to house creative firms.
On opening night, with light spilling from the once-dark units onto once-empty Jamaica Street, it was clear the area had changed physically. And behind the scenes it was changing economically too as Baltic Creative’s units have filled.
Managing director Mark Lawler said: “By September 2013 we probably had about 40 or 50 companies wanting to move in. We thought we were onto something then.”
Putting digital firms in “shopfronts,” with glass walls facing the street, was an unusual move, but the team said it was all part of a wider plan to make the area more welcoming.
Mr Lawler said: “Instead of hiding businesses behind roller shutters and brick walls, we gave them a shopfront - allowing the public to see what these industries are up to.”
Since then Baltic Creative has kept growing, now housing more than 180 businesses across 118,000 sq ft of space. It’s joined the move to Cains, opening the artist-focused Northern Lights base there.
And it’s now turning one of the area’s remaining 19th century warehouses, in Norfolk Street, into a Digital Tech hub with rooftop terrace. Last year, Mr Lawler said there’s already a waiting list of firms looking to move there.
Read our full report on the Baltic Triangle - the coolest place in Britain - .
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As a community interest company, Baltic Creative reinvests all its profits back into property, tenants or the sector.
It operates a strict lettings policy meaning that space in its buildings, which include Creative Campus, Northern Lights and the recently launched Digital House, is only occupied by creative and digital businesses.
The firm said that by doing this, not only does it keep office space affordable, well-managed and tailored to sector needs, it also encourages collaboration between like-minded, innovative businesses.
It added that its 2016 business plan was to grow its business footprint to 90,000sq ft by 2021 - a target it has already exceeded.
Fiona Armstrong-Gibb, the new chair of Baltic Creative CIC, said: “The digital and creative sector in the Liverpool City Region remains strong and is growing at a rate of 2.5 times faster than other sectors.
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“We are still experiencing high levels of interest in our spaces and we have people on waiting lists, which is why we are so determined to grow.
“Looking ahead to 2024, we envision a region-wide family of creative spaces, places, and clusters that are interconnected and supportive of each other, but equally differentiated by their own personalities, drawing on the diversity of people, skills and industries that are the region’s strengths.”
Baltic Creative celebrated its anniversary last week with a party for partners, funders, business owners and tenants where its 2019 annual report was released, alongside a screening of its promotional film, ‘10 Years On’.