Innovation Hub and Park – Commercial Advisor

Queen Margaret University (QMU), in collaboration with East Lothian Council (ELC), has been successful in securing GBP30m City Deal funding for Phase One of its new commercial development to create an Innovation Hub at the Edinburgh Innovation Park (EIP), adjacent to the University campus. The Innovation Hub will be a best-in-class facility that is purpose designed to provide a highly targeted infrastructure and property offer, together with the specialist services required to capture, support and grow companies working in the fast-moving innovation sector. Key target markets are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working across a range of innovation sectors with particular focus on those areas where the University and the region has expertise and excellence - including the food and drink and technology sectors. The vision of the project partners is that the Innovation Hub will act as a national resource underpinned by the expertise found within the region’s innovation network working in partnership to grow and support the innovation sector. The Innovation Hub is a flagship development for Edinburgh Innovation Park. As a new commercial development targeting the innovation sector, specialist input and oversight is required to identify and address all areas of risk in respect of the facility’s design, development and operations and to ensure the Hub will achieve rapid market appeal together with commercial viability. The appointment of a Commercial Advisor to oversee all commercial elements of the Hub’s design, development and operations provides the project partners with a high degree of expertise and experience in the delivery of world-class commercial innovation hubs. The Commercial Advisor will ensure delivery of the vision for the Innovation Hub on time and in budget, to the highest commercial and best-practice standards. The Commercial Advisor will contribute to all aspects of Innovation Hub design, development and operational planning and will be the central point of reference for all activities with an innovation hub-based commercial focus. In particular, the Innovation Hub Commercial Advisor will provide support across all pre-development and development RIBA Work Stages to the Hub’s operational launch as a new business.