A BRAND new shared workspace with cutting edge production studios is coming to Leamington next summer.
Set to be based in a grade II listed and newly renovated church on Spencer Street in Old Town, The Fold will be a hub for creative excellence where copywriters, designers, developers, content creators and many more can connect and collaborate.
The Fold is the brainchild of Cogent, an independent marketing agency that has been at the forefront of the Midlands creative industry for over 90 years, working with high-profile clients such as Bacofoil, Virgin, Volvo, Spoticar, Wolseley, Aldo, and National Grid ESO.
Built over three floors, the space will come fully equipped with six state-of-the-art production facilities, including a virtual studio, foley suite, edit facilities, recording booths and a new tech testing lab.
The Fold will also be the new campus for the SAE Institute – the global specialist provider of creative media education – allowing SAE UK not only to provide grounds for its students, but also networking opportunities and hands-on work experience.
Steffan Davies, Managing Director at SAE Europe, said: “I am very excited by the launch of an SAE campus at The Fold in Leamington Spa – it is a perfect location as one of the ‘creative clusters’ identified by the government in the UK Creative Industry landscape.
“SAE campuses reflect professional environments and include industry-grade production facilities. Students undertake project briefs co-created with industry partners using a practical ‘creative studio’ approach, with collaboration encouraged across all creative media disciplines. SAE Leamington Spa will provide students with a new and exciting pathway into employment and future success within the creative media industries.”
The Fold is being realised by Complex Development Projects, which was appointed by Warwick District Council in December 2017 to deliver an ambitious master plan for a £45.5 million Creative Quarter in Leamington.
Katie Burn, Senior Development Executive at CDP, said: “We are delighted to have been working with Cogent on their vision for The Fold which will provide a vibrant creative environment as the first project in the Creative Quarter regeneration.
“The buildings have been unused for decades and their restoration and conversion would not have been possible without our firm partnership with WDC and the grant that was secured from the Future High Streets Fund.
“We are excited to deliver this much-needed space in collaboration with Cogent, which will provide a catalyst for further growth and regeneration in the south of the town as well as boosting the economy.”
With its interior design led by Alan Ellis, who worked on a flagship hospitality design project within Battersea Power Station, The Fold is set to attract a host of young talent and freelancers not just from the Midlands, but the whole country as well.
WDC Leader Coun Andrew Day added: “Leamington Spa is already home to a wide range of vibrant gaming businesses and The Fold will further cement the town’s reputation as a thriving epicentre for creativity and innovation. This will be the catalyst for major transformation of the town centre and is an exciting way to start the Creative Quarter initiative.”
