Sandwiched between two iconic cultural institutions on the banks of the River Tyne in Gateshead is Baltic Quarter, a unique business destination that has been quietly growing an impressive creative, digital and technology cluster over the past decade.
Anchored by the global renown of The Glasshouse International Centre of Music and Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, this thriving business quarter is an attractive location for companies who value cultural capital as well as commercial opportunity.
Baltic Quarter is home to more than 40 fast-growing SMEs, including leading games companies such as Sumo Digital, Atomhawk and Coatsink, as well as Gateshead College, PROTO and Digital Catapult: Immex City.
Just a stone’s throw from Newcastle city centre, the site benefits from world-class low carbon energy infrastructure, access to skilled talent and high-quality digital production facilities, and co-location with a planned international conference centre and arena complex that will brings millions of visitors to the region every year.
Powering a sustainable future
One of the principal differentiators for Baltic Quarter is that it is supported by an award-winning District Energy Centre, which provides low-cost, low-carbon energy for the whole area.
Having been described as a ‘truly visionary’ exemplar of sustainable power generation, Gateshead’s District Energy Centre sources power through a variety of environmentally friendly sources, including the UK’s largest mine water heat pump system, which produces 50% of the network’s heat demand, and two urban solar farms that supply around 25% of total power requirements.
The innovative scheme encapsulates power generation, distribution and energy storage, providing access to reliable and renewable energy solutions for domestic, commercial and public sector customers.
A hub for creative enterprise
Baltic Quarter also offers access to a digital production facility unlike any other in the North East. PROTO is the place where animators, filmmakers and games developers can bring digital content to life through 3D character, motion and audio capture technology.
Home to the Digital Catapult programme dedicate to accelerating the growth and scale-up potential of the North East’s immersive technology sector, PROTO was the first digital production studio of its kind when it was established, combining collaborative workspaces and private offices with state-of-the-art equipment for companies expanding into the metaverse.
Building the skills pipeline
Baltic Quarter is also home to Gateshead College, providing a variety of industry-facing courses for students and a strong pipeline of talent for businesses located in the area.
Neighbouring Newcastle also offers access to two research-intensive universities, Newcastle and Northumbria, each of which delivers thousands of software developers and computer scientists every year.
What is next for Gateshead?
The growing digital cluster at Baltic Quarter has been a major catalyst for the ongoing urban regeneration of Gateshead town centre. Earlier this year, Capital & Centric announced their ambitions for the town, having taken on the conversion of the historic Old Town Hall.
Gateshead Council is working with the developers to create a town centre that locals and visitors alike can enjoy and one that supports the vibrant business community, which continues to play such a key part in bringing Gateshead to life.
Baltic Quarter is a great example of urban regeneration for the North East, combining innovative technology facilities with green energy infrastructure to create a self-sufficient business campus where companies big and small can develop their niches and bring new immersive experiences to life.
If you are interested in establishing a physical presence at Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter, get in touch with our team at invest@ngi.org.uk
