A SPACE FOR INNOVATION

Automatic doors swing open, inviting you inside. There is no reception desk, and nobody asks whether you should be here. Instead, you can stroll along to your pre-booked media suite – a professional studio for high-quality filming and editing or straight into a sound-proofed podcast booth.

You are free to explore at your leisure. And that, explains Senior Community Development Manager Kerr Hunter, is the point: “There are no barriers here,” says Kerr. “You could come in to use the 3D printers in our makerspace, but you might then see students using the virtual reality headset and might want to find out what that's all about. We’re open access, and that encourages users to speak to one another and truly explore.

"It’s an opportunity to try what you’ve never tried before.”

Kerr is responsible for building a staff and student community in HELIX. Since opening 18 months ago, registered users have risen to over 3,000. They include external businesses, alumni, students, academics and, of course, scholars from the University’s business start-up service, Spark.

A dedicated space is available for Spark entrepreneurs, past and present, meaning they always have somewhere to collaborate and test ideas. “They can try anything here," Kerr says. "They also have 3D printers, laser cutters, textiles equipment and craft resources at their disposal."