Science-focused firm Chanua Health is the latest tenant to move into Sensor City in Liverpool.
Chanua aims to solve some of the biggest challenges in healthcare, mental health and wellbeing by incorporating scientists within a community development and youth work approach.
It supports young people to engage in science and build skills and capacity to support their peers.
Chanua has taken a 344 sq ft space on the second floor. Since the city’s hub for sensor technology development and growth reached practical completion in July, 1,493 sq ft of office and laboratory space has been let to five companies at the forefront of the sector’s innovation.
Revolutionary personal grooming company Lozio also moved into Sensor City recently, taking 140 sq ft of office space on the first floor and is the first company to take space on this floor.
FMI was the first tenant to move into Sensor City, signing the lease for a 344 sq ft office in June 2017. Aqua Running and UPLEC Industries joined FMI on the second floor in August, where they are now joined by Chanua Health.
Approximately 2,000 sq ft is still available on the second floor of the building, with just over 2,800 sq ft free on the first floor. There are also hot desking facilities available on the ground floor.
“The building’s exceptional facilities are proving to be a huge draw for innovators and entrepreneurs. It is fantastic to be able to accommodate companies that are really pushing the boundaries of sensor technology,” said Dr Joanne Phoenix (pictured below), business development manager at Sensor City.
“These are exciting companies for Sensor City and we look forward to watching them progress their projects with our support and facilities.”
Jonathan Baucher, partner at Cushman & Wakefield, which has been appointed to market the building, said: “It’s a truly unique space in the UK and its continued letting success reflects this.
“One of the most interesting aspects of working with the team at Sensor City has been watching this diverse mix of tenants grow and collaborate within the space in such a short space of time.
“We are very pleased to have welcomed five companies to the development to date and with lots of interest in the remaining offices at Sensor City, we are confident that the lettings will continue at a similar pace going forward.”
Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy backed the project with a £5 million investment in 2014. In 2016, the England European Regional Development Fund, awarded £5m in capital investment as match funding to support the development of the hi-tech sensor hub.
The University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University are each committing £1.5m to the project and £2m of co-investment from corporate sponsors is to be secured over the next five years.