Hull’s Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) has undergone an exciting rejuvenation to create the perfect environment for tech businesses to thrive into the future.
After an eight-week refit, a stunning transformation of C4DI’s ground floor has been revealed, marking the start of a new chapter for the region’s leading tech hub and the digital community that calls it home.
When C4DI opened 10 years ago, it offered one of the city’s very first co-working spaces and created a flagship and focal point for the region’s tech community.
Now the building’s owner Wykeland Group has made further investment to begin the next phase of the C4DI story to create a vibrant business lounge and co-working space where tech start-ups and scale-ups come together with established businesses to collaborate, innovate and thrive.
The refit corresponds with a re-focusing of C4DI to back the tech community into the future, supporting start-ups, enabling business growth and retaining digital talent within the region.
Andrea Morley, Associate Director of property development and investment company Wykeland, said: “We have invested significantly to create a vibrant workspace which supports modern ways of working, offering a great place to work and providing an exceptional platform for businesses to grow.
“In all aspects of the refit, we wanted to reinforce the essence of why C4DI was created. Ten years ago, Hull had a tech community, but it was fragmented. C4DI brought that community together to drive innovation and growth.
“This latest evolution marks the beginning of the next exciting chapter for C4DI as the region’s premier centre of tech innovation and business collaboration.
“We’re very proud of the hugely positive impact C4DI has had over the past decade and to have invested again to create the perfect environment for members and occupiers to thrive now and in the years ahead.”
The C4DI design and fit-out has been delivered by Hull-based commercial interior designer Chameleon Business Interiors, which led on the original look and feel a decade ago.
The transformation has created an open-plan ground floor space, with a new business lounge and expanded kitchen and breakout area, revamped communal spaces, additional co-working stations and new video conferencing tech in the meeting rooms.
Following an industrial theme with steel tones present throughout, the open-plan space is split into a work area, with increased co-working desks available, and a business lounge area. It also features preserved moss walls creating a natural aesthetic, while quiet booths and closed-off meeting rooms provide private spaces for work.
The kitchen and breakout space incorporates a breakfast bar and seating for informal meetings, with enhanced food preparation areas for members to use and enabling it to be utilised for events.
Throughout the project, the C4DI community has been kept informed and updated, with events held in collaboration with Chameleon to showcase the changes and respond to questions and feedback.
C4DI Director Linsey Brown said: “C4DI was created 10 years ago to bring Hull’s tech community together, providing a space where startups could grow, businesses could collaborate, and innovation could thrive.
“As we move into this next phase, we’re building on those foundations by focusing on inspiring and educating the next generation of entrepreneurs, supporting them in launching and growing their own businesses, and ensuring Hull remains a place where tech talent can thrive.
“Looking ahead, C4DI will continue to offer flexible workspace, industry-led mentoring, and a growing programme of events and opportunities tailored to help startups and businesses succeed.
“This evolution has been made possible by the fantastic refurbishment delivered by Chameleon, and we’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of Wykeland, whose long-term commitment to C4DI has enabled us to create a space that reflects the ambitions of our community.”
Over the past decade, C4DI has been the catalyst for the growth of dozens of digital businesses and the creation of hundreds of highly-skilled jobs.
Matt Johnson, Director of Hull-based content marketing agency Different Resonance, said: “I’ve been a member of C4DI since 2019 and chose to make it the base for my business because of the support the community provides for start-ups and its incredible location.
“Over the years, I’ve seen the space evolve. This next chapter is an exciting one. The new space will make it easier for the community to come together in different ways, fostering even more collaboration between businesses of all sizes. Here’s to the next 10 years!”
C4DI is the centrepiece of the wider @TheDock tech campus, with companies including Saab Technologies, payment tech provider Dojo, healthcare tech specialist Vertual, digital performance marketing agency Summit and regulatory compliance technology business Rubicon Bridge all calling the development their home.
@TheDock has also played a major role in the transformation of the Fruit Market waterfront area into a thriving new community, which is now home to hundreds of residents and an array of independent businesses, shops, restaurants, bars and galleries.
To mark the completion of the refit, C4DI is hosting an open day on Wednesday, May 21, from 9am-7pm, as it welcomes existing and potential new members of the community to experience and celebrate the transformation.
The event will offer a taste of being a member of the C4DI community, offer an opportunity to work from the new co-working space, attend a professional development event, and finish the day with a social mixer in the new open-plan kitchen.
C4DI has also unveiled a new website, designed and created by digital design agency TH3 Design, which is based in the building. The website showcases C4DI and the many opportunities it offers. Find out more at www.c4di.co.uk
