A new space has opened at the University of Huddersfield, with the purpose of supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners develop their creative ideas.
Titled the ‘Maker Space’, it will allow people the opportunity to use specialist tools and equipment they might otherwise not have access to.
The Maker Space is a collaborative project between the University of Huddersfield and Business Kirklees – Kirklees Council’s business, economy and growth service – and Santander Universities, and is housed in the University’s Barbara Hepworth Building.
Maker Space was officially launched at an event in the Barbara Hepworth Building, where students and budding entrepreneurs pitched their ideas at an audience including local business people, members of Kirklees council and University academics. Santander Universities director Matt Hutnell was in attendance to mark the occasion, offering their continued to support for student and graduate entrepreneurship at the University.
The offering will specifically be open to businesses and entrepreneurs who are engaging with Business Kirklees or the University of Huddersfield’s Enterprise Team around developing their business, with the aim of helping them learn new skills and develop ideas.
With access to a wide range of equipment – encompassing everything from 3D printers, Arduino and sewing machines to Apple Macs with Adobe creative software – entrepreneurs will be able to develop in every aspect of the creative process to spur their business along.
As well as offering access to specialist equipment, the Maker Space will provide a physical place for creatives to come together and work alongside like-minded individuals.
The Maker Space is a £71,895 investment, and Kirklees Council have contributed £30,000 of this funding through a revenue grant to help kickstart the project. This funding covers the Maker Space for an initial six-month trial period, running up to 30 September 2023. Whether the project continues beyond September will be based on its success and uptake.
While this Maker Space is open specifically to young businesses, plans are also being developed to open another Maker Space in North Kirklees which will be less business-focused and available for use by the general public.
David Shepherd, Kirklees Council’s Strategic Director for Growth & Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which will allow young businesses the opportunity to work with the kind of state-of-the-art resources and learning they might otherwise not have access to.
“The Maker Space has so much to offer, and I hope to see people using it to really develop their creative ideas, products, services and business plans, and to create new connections with like-minded people – something that’s invaluable when you’re building a business. This is a fantastic addition to the support we already provide for small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs in Kirklees.”
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE added: “This is a wonderful collaborative effort and I’m really excited about the possibilities that the Maker Space holds for students and graduates from the University of Huddersfield and for the wider community.
“The resources that we are providing, from Arduino to overlockers will lead to the creation of new opportunities, new businesses and innovation. I urge people to find out more and see what they can do in the space and with the resources.”
