A centre of excellence for digital media businesses
This month saw the opening of the Digital Media Quarter (DMQ) in Glasgow – a dedicated business location for Scotland’s digital media industry.
Located on Pacific Quay alongside major organisations such as BBC Scotland, STV and XFM radio, the DMQ site extends to around five hectares and will feature a wide range of uses including business, leisure and tourism, cultural and residential.
The first speculative development on the DMQ was completed in April – the Medius building offers 24,000 sq ft of office accommodation and is likely to be occupied by one, large corporate company.
A second building, the Hub, is currently under development, and will provide 70,000 sq ft of flexible accommodation. Office space from 100 to 2,000 sq ft will be available, depending on the size of company. The flexibility will allow companies to take more space as they grow.
The Glasgow School of Arts Digital Design Studio will move into the Hub early next year providing the building with an anchor tenant that is working at the cutting edge of digital media technologies. While Shed MEDIA, the television group behind hits such as Supernanny and Bad Girls, is to open its first Scottish office at the DMQ in 2009.
Adrian Gillespie, Director of Scottish Enterprise’s Digital Markets and Enabling Technologies team said: “The DMQ project is aimed at bringing together digital media content developers, broadcasters and publishers, communication technology companies, research and development institutions and related technologies working across the media.
The vision is to create a centre of excellence and a dynamic focus for the digital media industries in Scotland
“The vision is to create a centre of excellence and a dynamic focus for the digital media industries in Scotland.”
“You can see throughout the world confluences of digital media companies together in the same location,” continues Claire Scally of Scottish Enterprise, which is supporting the DMQ.
“By housing these companies together, we would expect to see cross pollination of ideas, an exchange of creativity and the potential for stronger, more sustainable strategic partnerships.”
The launch of the DMQ took place on 9 October at the BBC Scotland HQ on Pacific Quay. Hosted by John Swinney MSP and Scottish Enterprise COO Lena Wilson, the event was attended by stakeholders and a range of potential occupants.
Appropriately enough a technical display was the highlight of the evening as guest speaker Doug Richards, a former Dragon in Dragon’s Den, was interrupted by a 3D holograph of himself, which then finished his talk.
“The launch event was very successful and was a great way to open what is a key initiative in our strategy for the digital media sector,” says Claire.
“Our vision is to create a centre of excellence for digital media businesses in Scotland. When an international audience look to Scotland, we want them to be able to identify a location that is the hub of digital media activity in Scotland.”