Digital Media Centre, Barnsley

As you approach the building, you can see why the new Digital Media Centre (DMC) in Barnsley is being referred to as a landmark building symbolising the future of business in the town. The three towers stand proud, without being intimidating. The expansive atrium is impressive and the friendly receptionist makes you feel welcome. The architects, Bauman Lyons, have created a modern reflection of the town’s traditional architecture and produced a fitting response to the aspirations Barnsley has to be the market town for the 21st century.

The £10.5 million project, funded by Yorkshire Forward, European Regional Development Fund (Objective 1: South Yorkshire) and Barnsley Council is a fundamental part of the Remaking Barnsley programme. Culture and creativity have been identified as key drivers for the town’s 21st century transformation, following the decline of the coal mining industry. The centre aims to support the growth of a new creative and digital sector and to be a major contributor to the economic regeneration of the town.

The centre is attracting interest from regional and UK wide businesses, as well as those already within Barnsley. One company has opened their third office within the centre:

"With five WEBMARTEERS initially operating in the new Barnsley office, we can play a more active role in the region, where the historical existence of a local pool of printing firms can become part of the WEBMART® supply chain. Choosing Barnsley makes sense geographically, helping us support our clients located between offices in East Kilbride, Scotland and Bicester, Oxfordshire. Also, using the DMC as our hub will help us to develop our presence in the region." Simon Biltcliffe, Managing Director of WEBMART®.

Over a third of the 72 offices are already let following the centre’s opening in August 2007 and it is exceeding the council’s capacity targets. “The main purpose of the centre is to provide early stage support, to house and service new and small businesses within the creative and digital industries,” says Jo Savage, Senior Development Officer, Marketing and Communication, Remaking Barnsley. Companies that moved into the centre early on are already outgrowing their current office provision and expanding to bigger offices and recruiting more staff. Eventually, these businesses will move out of the building altogether into quality town centre office space, again being created through the Remaking Barnsley programme.

The next project is already underway; Remaking Barnsley has commissioned DTZ to create a masterplan of the surrounding area to assess how Barnsley Digital Media Centre can energise the local economy even further.

The great links the DMC has with local universities and business support agencies delivers and develops talent; thus creating jobs, raising people’s aspirations and establishing Barnsley as an excellent place to do business from.

The local community has responded very well to the centre. “Often people come in from the street to have a look inside” says Melissa Goodrich of Oxford Innovation Ltd, the company managing the centre on behalf of Barnsley Council. “Local groups are already booking the meeting rooms and conference facilities.” The café, which is soon to open, will add another dimension to the offering as well as drawing in a different audience.