Innovative digital specialist AYO Media has signed a three-year deal to take 2,100 square feet of space, which will treble its office space, in the landmark Northern Design Centre that is fast approaching completion on Baltic Business Quarter.

Fast-growing AYO Media has doubled in size in the last twelve months and is confident that its new headquarters at the Northern Design Centre, which can support growth of up to 30 employees, will be the catalyst for even bigger success in the future.

Rob Mathieson, managing director at AYO Media, said: “This is a huge milestone in the growth of the business as the new office will enable us to enhance our client servicing, provide our staff with a superb working environment and offer the flexibility for future expansion.

“We have worked closely with the team at Gateshead Council in obtaining a space that is ideal for our company. We are very proud to be associated with such a high-profile commercial development.”

The move follows the recent announcement of the web development expert expanding its digital operations with the launch of a new office in Manchester following several new account wins in the North West.

All 13 of AYO Media’s existing North East based staff will be moving into the Northern Design Centre. The company is already looking to add to that number with a search underway for high calibre recruits in key business areas.

Hotly tipped to be the location of choice for creative businesses in the region, the four-storey Northern Design Centre has a prime location at Baltic Business Quarter on Gateshead Quays. Gateshead Council is already receiving strong interest in the Northern Design Centre with up to 150 jobs expected to be created there.

Superfast broadband, access to unique networking and business development opportunities and rates fixed for 36 months are just some of the benefits being offered to creative businesses at the Northern Design Centre. Easy in, easy out terms for start-up businesses are also on offer.

Leader of Gateshead Council, Mick Henry, said: “The Northern Design Centre is purpose built for innovative, creative, fast expanding businesses like AYO Media.

“We’ve seen significant growth in creative industries over the last few years. The Northern Design Centre is a significant investment in the continued success of our digital and creative sector and will provide high quality space, specifically designed to meet the pent up demand from businesses here in the North East.”

High quality North East design is built into the Northern Design Centre. Everything from mirrors to masonry and steelwork, to soft flooring has been carried out by firms with strong North East links. Even the bold and striking design of the building comes courtesy of international architectural practice Redboxdesigngroup, which has its headquarters in Newcastle.

The project has been awarded £4.95 million from the European Union's European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, in addition to Single Programme Funding. The ERDF programme is bringing over £300 million into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

The Northern Design Centre will also boast charging points for electric vehicles as part of the network of charging points being created across the borough by Gateshead Council. Gateshead Council, in partnership with Charge Your Car North, is heavily involved in the ‘Plugged in Places’ initiative to provide the infrastructure needed for privately owned electric vehicles. The business premises will also benefit from super fast broadband.

Businesses interested in taking studio space at the Northern Design Centre can contact Gateshead Council 0191 433 2815 or by emailing economicdevelopment@gateshead.gov.uk|

Gateshead Council media contact: Mark Pearce at Gateshead Council. Tel: 0191 433 2193. Email: markpearce@gateshead.gov.uk|

AYO Media contact: Raman Sehgal at remarketing. Tel: 07808 796 300. Email: raman@ramarketingpr.com|

Notes to editors:
The Northern Design Centre is part-funded by ERDF, please include the following logo and accompanying text: -

European Union
Investing in Your Future

European Regional
Development Fund 2007-13

NDC is a Business Premises product, part of the solutions for business portfolio. The Solutions for Business (SfB) portfolio is the range of publicly funded products and services designed to help businesses identify and overcome key challenges as they grow and develop.

On 1 December 2011, the delivery of the Plugged in Places project was transferred from One North East to Charge Your Car North – a not for profit company set up by Gateshead College to deliver public duty projects around the low carbon vehicle agenda.