Temporary location sought for 30 quake-displaced IT businesses

The Christchurch City Council will this week consider a report to provide a temporary location to relocate 30 earthquake-displaced IT businesses following the February earthquake.

The 20 small-to-medium-sized businesses, employing about 330 full-time employees, approached Council during the Share an Idea phase of the development of the draft Central City Plan to help with the relocation of their businesses.

Council will this Thursday (28 July) consider granting temporary use of the former Para Rubber site, on the corner of Tuam Street and Manchester Street, to develop an IT cluster in the area. The site is owned by Council.

The group, known as Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (EPIC), has been created to stimulate growth of high innovation in the Central City. It will ultimately be home to more than 440 employees working for more than 30 small-to-medium-sized businesses providing innovative technology solutions to a global market.

Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button says technology is seen as one of the key areas to develop new business opportunities and promote strong economic growth in the Central City.

“Establishing the innovation campus will enable the 30 businesses to continue operating, attract skilled workers and protect growth through the development of collaborative business opportunities.”

She says Christopher Coleman, Google’s Director of Global Real Estate, responsible for building many large Google campuses across the globe, and Craig Nevill-Manning, Engineering Director in New York, who was the customer for a large build-out in New York, which now employs 2000, have both offered to provide free advice for the development of EPIC.

“This advice will be invaluable based on their experience of designing large collaborative spaces for software engineers, salespeople and creative staff on a tight budget.”

SLI Systems CEO Shaun Ryan says it is fantastic Council is looking to support IT companies like SLI Systems by considering the EPIC proposal. “This is a unique opportunity to create a collaborative work environment that will allow our innovative companies to flourish. It will create long term employment and help bring some energy back to the heart of the city. It’s not something we could do alone.”

Councillor Button says the use of Para Rubber is considered temporary until longer-term facilities are developed by EPIC within the Central City.