The innovation centre at the heart of Birmingham’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths) initiatives has welcomed its first members to a brand-new dedicated space for creatives. STEAMhouse’s latest programme, The Studio, is a collaborative incubator for start-ups, sole traders, small businesses and creatives, providing wrap-around support to help them grow.
Situated in the heart of Birmingham, in the 120,000sq ft redeveloped Belmont Works, The Studio is dedicated to empowering local artists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in the creative industry to grow their products and services collaboratively.
Solopreneurs and start-up founders can tap into STEAMhouse’s team of experts, as well as state-of-the-art equipment, peer networking, and dedicated workspaces. There are also in-house technicians on hand, all of whom specialise in STEAM product development and design for businesses at concept and MVP stage.
Clayton Shaw, Head of STEAMhouse (Commercial) comments: “Since opening in 2018, STEAMhouse has positioned itself at the heart of the city’s innovation scene. We’ve continued to build and develop our offering for businesses of all shapes and sizes; from solo founders through to scale-ups with 50+ team members.
The Studio has been developed with specific businesses and founders in mind. The wrap-around support services allow entrepreneurs to not just move in and be surrounded by likeminded businesses, but to also access tailored and specialist equipment and advice that is focused on their growth. There has never been a more important time for business support services to step-up and help their local ecosystems to thrive, and we’re extremely proud to be part of Birmingham’s ongoing start-up success story.”
The Studio builds on STEAMhouse’s award-winning portfolio of support programmes, including the Business Incubator, which was launched back in 2020 and has since supported 800 enterprises. This new Creative Incubator has been designed for those needing more hands-on, specialist assistance, providing access to a wide range of tech in the production space, including 3D printers, a welding room, wood and steel-working stations, and a textiles workshop.
Collaborative Architecture practice, Co-Arch, is one of the first businesses to join The Studio. Director, Shane Traynor, adds: We’re excited that Co-Arch has found its new home at STEAMhouse, a vibrant space perfectly aligned with our passion for creativity and innovation. The decision to move here was a no-brainer, given STEAMhouse’s commitment to fostering a dynamic environment, and the remarkable restoration project that transformed this space into a hub for innovation.As architects, we appreciate The Studio’s tailored approach for creatives, and we’re already collaborating with a diverse range of innovators. Being part of a community that actively contributes to sustainability and minimises waste really resonates with our values.”
Places at The Studio are limited, but any business interested in finding out more is invited to book in for a site tour and day pass to work from the space. Email [email protected] to find out more.
