New tenants LouTom Media have chosen Albert North as their base for expansion into the North East.

The Liverpool-based marketing and advertising agency, which also has offices in Edinburgh, moved into the Albert North development in early October.

They will also be joined by interior designers Cocoon & Bauer, who will move into 21 Albert Road in early November.

Cocoon & Bauer owner Peter Turner said: “We needed to expand and as we’d always had our heart set on opening a showroom we had a few places in mind. With the success of the redevelopment of Albert Road and the growing community, I felt this was the perfect location for us to become a face on the high street.”

The Albert North development is a joint venture between Middlesbrough Council and property developer Jomast.

The development already houses a number of small to medium businesses, including award-winning digital companies which have flocked into Middlesbrough as it becomes an established digital cluster.

Middlesbrough Council City Centre Manager Michelle McPhee said: “It’s great to see more new businesses join this unique opportunity at the heart of Middlesbrough’s ambitious regeneration programme.

“The Historic Quarter and Boho Zone are now firmly established as the place to be for cutting-edge creative and digital, retail and leisure businesses.”

Business	Offer
Alkaline Kitchen	10% off food & drink
Ananda Wellbeing Studio	10% off classes & membership
Pie Jackers	10% off when eating in on Mondays & Tuesdays
Al Forno's	Two for one (any pizza/pasta from ala carte menu) Cheapest one free *offer not valid 1st to 31st December *offer valid in Middlesbrough Restaurant only *offer available between 12pm and 6pm
TP Coffee House	10% off per minimum spend of £4 and have a loyalty card for the purchase of which will buy 10 hot drinks and get one free.
Umi Japenese	10% of the food bill when total exceeds £20.
Elianos	10% off Food from Al A Carte menu (excludes any other offers or promotions on the menu) Please mention Albert Road North Loyalty card when making booking.
Mannequin Café	Loyalty card for hot drinks afternoon treat, coffee and cake for £3.90 Breakfast bun w/tea/white coffee/black coffee £3.00
Turtlebay	20% Discount of food bill (when a drink is purchased) Sunday - Friday. Excludes set menus (inc. Christmas)
La Pharmacie	10% of Food Bill - does not apply to the £5 menu
Peri Peri Original	10% of A-F meals on the menu
Uno Ristorante	10% Discount
Boho Bytes café	loyalty card scheme for drinks and specials
Pierre	10% of ladies and gents hair. 15% of Spray Tans
Little Vegan Market	10% off on zero waste products. 15% if you bring your own container
Manjaros	15% of Food Bill when dining Mon-Thurs 12-5pm
The Nesting Box	Tuesdays and Fridays 20% of Everything (excluding facial treatments)
UltraChique Salon	10% of all spa, beauty and clinic therapies. Full priced items only
Dovecot	20% of all Food Purchases between 12-2pm
Oodles Noodles	10% discount on take away and sit in meals- Linthorpe Road
Holiday Inn Express	15% off bedroom & 20% off food and beverage during stay
The Stottie Company	20% off any purchase between Monday 7th January and Sunday 20th January then 10% any purchase. Restrictions; not including alcohol sales

Innovative intent data management platform Carbon DMP has moved into the heart of Teesside’s flourishing technology hub, as it reveals plans to double its North East workforce within the next 18 months.

Relocating to Albert North’s SIXTEEN/26, the 24-strong team now occupies 5,000 sq ft in one of the buildings biggest newly refurbished units.

Having spent three years at Cleveland Business Centre, Clicksco-owned Carbon DMP has officially opened the doors at its new location, following the rapid expansion of its cutting-edge audience targeting and monetisation technology. Pioneered by the award-winning team of digital consultants, developers and data scientists, Carbon DMP’s unique suite of tools and solutions have been embedded by leading US and European publishers, brands and agencies.

Pete Danks, divisional CEO at Carbon DMP, says the decision to take up larger, more flexible space was primarily driven by the company’s commitment to innovation. He explained: “Innovation is central to everything we do – we’re lucky to have some of the best creative minds in the sector developing our industry-leading technologies and as such, we recognise the importance of ensuring they have the optimal environment to thrive.”

Offering its employees the option of a four-day working week, Carbon DMP also gives every team member two hours of wellness time per week so they can recharge their batteries. The company’s new office even boasts a dedicated ‘wellness room’ – a major design element that aligns to its people-centric culture, with the aim of stimulating long-term productivity.

Pete added: “There are plenty of activities for our staff to get involved in such as yoga, table tennis and pool and we’re looking forward to having several new starters join us in the coming weeks. As a champion of wellbeing in the workplace, it’s invigorating to see the positive impact it has on our people – contributing not only to retaining highly-skilled digital experts, but attracting specialists at all levels, whether that’s filling senior technical roles or engaging interns from the region’s rich talent pool. Innovating in this way is the key to our success, as demonstrated by our raft of new appointments and active recruitment strategy, which supports our ambitious plans to double our headcount by the end of 2020.”

With firms such as Mabo Media and Salesfire already counted as neighbours, Carbon DMP is one of many technology companies flocking to the area as it becomes an established digital cluster.

Pete continued: “Moving to Albert North perfectly positions our team within a bustling commercial district and it’s exciting to be part of the buzz – especially as Middlesbrough has been identified as a fast-emerging UK digital tech hotspot. As Carbon DMP heads into this next stage of growth, that’s a major draw for us. We welcome the opportunity to connect with a wider community of like-minded businesses while we strive to position our technology as a must-have for brands, agencies and publishers located in the North East and beyond.”

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director at Jomast, which owns the development said: “It’s very exciting that Carbon DMP, another award winning company, has decided to join the ever-growing tech community at Albert North. Working with their appointed designers and using our experienced fit-out team, we have together created a fantastic space for both working and relaxing. We wish them every success with their ambitious growth plans.”

 

Artisan pie makers judged to be among the best in the region are taking the law into their pastry rolling hands.

Pie Jackers – the brainchild of Julie and Neil Fletcher – is opening its first bakery and diner in the former court chambers at the heart of Middlesbrough’s historic quarter.

The company burst on to the local food scene in 2016 after the husband and wife team quit their jobs in PR and Marketing and began selling their handmade gourmet pies at farmers markets and food events.

Since then they’ve scooped a whopping seven British Pie Awards, making Pie Jackers one of the most decorated pie makers in the North East.

The couple’s plans for the historic stone-fronted building include a bakery counter and licensed casual dining, a place where customers can tuck into a pie meal washed down with a local craft ale. There will also be a takeaway service.

“It’s the most beautiful building, it’s got bags of character and we can’t wait to get started on the refit which will include a fun twist on its historical links to the courts,” said Julie.

“We love the work that’s being carried out to regenerate the historic quarter and we hope Pie Jackers will prove a popular destination for those working in the creative digital industries that are flourishing in this part of town.”

The new venture is at the heart of Albert North, home to some of Middlesbrough’s most iconic buildings.

Work is ongoing to expose the area’s industrial heritage, and many of the spaces are being renovated by urban regeneration specialists Jomast in collaboration with Middlesbrough Council.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director at Jomast, said: “It is great news to have signed the multi award-winning Pie Jackers as our latest tenant at Albert North.

“There is a real buzz of excitement around this announcement and personally I can’t wait for them to open their doors.”

 

We’re looking for a new food and beverage or leisure operator to add to Albert North’s existing offer and we’ve launched a competition to find our latest tenant!

The winning business will be offered a lease of a ground floor unit along Albert Road, of between 750 sq ft and 1,200 sq ft with a generous rent incentive and the opportunity to apply for a £2,000 grant from Middlesbrough Council to assist with the fit-out.

The new business will join Mabo Media, Salesfire, Keystage Recruitment and Hays Recruitment on Albert North, and our newest edition, vegan café, Alkaline Kitchen, the development’s first food and beverage operator.

Budding yoga studios, coffee shops, beauty salons and eateries are encouraged to apply.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director at Jomast, said: “We aim to bring together passionate people and inspiring businesses into one exciting business community.”

“This is a great opportunity for a business to establish itself as a brand in the ever-growing community at Albert North.”

Michelle McPhee, City Centre Manager at Middlesbrough Council, added: “The historic quarter and Boho Zone are already home to a host of cutting-edge creative and digital businesses, with Middlesbrough firmly established as a regional centre of excellence.

“Albert North is the latest phase of an ambitious programme of regeneration that is creating a vibrant city centre offer, with first-class retail and leisure sectors.

“This competition offers the right business a unique opportunity to play a part in the creation of a prosperous future for Middlesbrough and the wider city region.”

Albert North is a multi-million-pound regeneration project, led by local property developers Jomast in partnership with Middlesbrough Council.

It forms part of a wider Council strategy to drive significant investment to Middlesbrough’s city centre and support local business growth.

The development is situated on a major thoroughfare through Middlesbrough’s centre, close to the rail station, Middlesbrough College, and the main shopping area.

To enter the competition, applicants must submit their business plan to monk@jomast.co.uk by Friday, May 17, 2019.

Alkaline Kitchen, which is the brainchild of owners Anna Halbert and Luke Dobbing, has chosen Albert North as the destination for their new vegan cafe.

A culmination of this enterprising couple’s passion for wholesome plant-based food, the cafe opened its doors last month and is already receiving rave reviews across social media.

Drawing inspiration from their travels to other vegan cafes around the world they have developed their unique menu which is 100% vegan and also offers oil-free, soy-free, gluten-free and preservative-free options.

The cafe had initially planned to open in Yarm, but delay’s with a planning application for change of use to the premises meant the opening stalled. Not deterred and inspired by all of the regeneration happening in Middlesbrough Anna and Luke identified Albert North as the perfect alternative location.

Luke said: “When we visited Albert North we were inspired by the vision Jomast and Middlesbrough Council have for this part of town.

“We especially liked the eclectic buildings but the fact it’s a key thoroughfare in the town was a massive tick in the box, and we jumped at the chance to open here”.

The cafe’s menu includes lighter meals such as a salad bar, soups and sandwiches as well as traditional favourites such as pizza, quiche and curries. An array of sweet treats, juices and smoothies are also available.

Anna said: “As vegan’s ourselves, we found that we had to travel further afield to experience a wider choice of vegan eateries.

“With the increasing popularity of a vegan diet, we identified a gap in the market locally and took the opportunity to create a business that appeals to food conscious individuals.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director at Jomast added: “We are bringing together a variety of businesses that complement each other to create a city vibe feel and Alkaline Kitchen is a perfect addition.”

Anna added, “This was our second attempt at obtaining commercial premises, Jomast made it so easy, they were extremely helpful throughout the process and always on hand to assist and answer any questions we had.”

Alkaline Kitchen is open Tuesday – Thursday 11am – 6.30pm and Friday – Saturday 11am – 9pm.

An influential national report has put Middlesbrough’s thriving digital sector firmly in the spotlight.

Tech Nation 2018 singles the town out as being in the vanguard of the UK’s burgeoning digital and hi-tech economy. The latest report gives an upbeat overview of the strength, depth and breadth of a vital sector that continues to expand at faster rate than the wider economy. And Middlesbrough is highlighted as one of 16 booming ‘digital suburbs and tech towns’ with a higher proportion of digital tech employment than the UK average.

The online report is a snapshot of the tech sector across the UK, and features recommendations for tech businesses, policymakers and corporates looking to accelerate growth. And the picture in Middlesbrough shows healthy growth in digital tech jobs of 19.5% to nearly 7,200 in 2016-17, with a total business turnover of just under £190 million. Digital GVA has increased locally by 44% from £211m in the 2017 report to £304m in the latest edition. The town’s worldwide reputation in digital animation is highlighted, including Teesside University’s specialist degrees in the field and the city’s hosting of Animex, the UK’s largest festival of animation and computer games.

The report showcases 14 tech companies from across the region that have recently completed DigitalCity’s three-month SCALE programme that pairs entrepreneurs with a dedicated business mentor. Other case studies include co-working space Studio 109 whose 6,500 sq ft of renovated space includes studio offices as well as co-working and hot-desking spaces, bringing together creative minds and fuelling innovation and growth.

Animmersion CEO Dominic Lusardi said Middlesbrough had been the perfect location to grow the business, with support from DigitalCity, Middlesbrough Council, Teesside University and the Combined Authority: “Add to this, the rich digital cluster and high quality graduates, and Middlesbrough is the perfect location.”

And the town’s pioneering digital start-ups have themselves singled out Dan Watson, Middlesbrough Council’s Digital Middlesbrough Manager, who formerly worked as DigitalCity’s Cluster Manager, as an influentialfigure in their growth. Dan said: “The drive and aspiration of entrepreneurs really ties in with Middlesbrough’s city-scale ambitions. “The businesses are incredibly open to collaboration and supporting the next generation, while also welcoming those moving into the digital industries in Middlesbrough.”

Laura Woods, Director of The Forge, Teesside University’s business hub and Chair of DigitalCity, said: “It is fantastic that the thriving digital sector in Middlesbrough has been recognised once again in the Tech Nation report and Teesside University is very proud of the role that we have played in its growth. “As an anchor institution for the region, helping to drive economic growth, we are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners in industry and local government to ensure that businesses can be helped to grow through digital innovation and access to graduate and academic talent.”

Councillor Lewis Young, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Economic Development and Infrastructure, said: “The Tech Nation 2018 report makes fantastic reading for this vital and growing sector in general, and for Middlesbrough in particular.“We’ve got a great track record as a breeding ground for digital and tech businesses, and the success stories and figures really speak for themselves. Middlesbrough truly is on the verge of one of the most exciting phases in its long and rich history, and it’s particularly fitting that one of the cornerstones of that resurgence should be the cutting-edge technology of the 21st Century.”

To view the Tech Nation 2018 report, visit: https://technation.io/insights/report-2018/

Historic buildings in the heart of Middlesbrough are currently enjoying a new lease of life as part of regeneration of Albert North on Albert Road by Jomast.

Buildings including the former Court Chambers, Kitching Building and the Wilson’s Courtyard have been rejuvenated as part of the reinvention of Albert North that has seen Alkaline Kitchen and Pie Jackers join a range of independent brands on Albert Road.

As well as bringing the heritage landmarks back into use, Jomast have been working with Heritage Unlocked’s Dr Tosh Warwick and Teesside Archives to explore the history of properties in Albert North and have uncovered unique photographs and plans dating back to early twentieth century.

Modern day occupants of the buildings will follow in the footsteps of some of the key figures that have helped shape Middlesbrough over the centuries and have played an important role in the day-to-day life of Teessiders for decades. Records dating back to the 1880s reveal tenants including London & Lancashire Insurance, Norwich Union, Bass Brewers and William Duncan, the architect of Redcar Town Clock.

By the early 1900s celebrated architect Robert Ridley Kitching’s practice was resident on Albert Road and would go on to be responsible for thousands of Teesside’s buildings and homes, including listed landmarks such as the Cargo Fleet Steel Company Offices, Christadelphian Hall and the United Reform Church on Linthorpe Road. Accountants, coal merchants, publicans, shipping magnates and tailors are amongst the range of former occupants of the Albert North redevelopment properties including the Constantines, the family shipping dynasty pivotal in establishing Constantine College, the predecessor to Teesside University.

Plans held by Teesside Archives also reveal construction details of the locally listed Kitching Building, Middlesbrough’s most notable Art Deco style building, details of Air Raid shelters for the Admiralty, based in the premises during the Second World War, as well as previous renovations along Albert Road dating back to the 1930s. The use of the historic documents to explore the history of the buildings is the latest project to make use of the collections that have also been used to aid the regeneration of Middlesbrough Town Hall, Saltburn Cliff Lift and the Tees Transporter Bridge.

Dr Tosh Warwick said: “The regeneration of the heritage buildings follows the example of leading developments across the country that have been praised by Historic England for bringing a new lease of life to city centres. The history of the buildings has generated lots of interests both from new occupants and the wider public”.

Julie and Neil Fletcher from Pie Jackers said their decision to open an artisan bakery and diner at 17 Albert Road was inspired by the character of the impressive stone fronted building which was originally the Court Chambers. Julie said: “Middlesbrough is our hometown and we’ve both walked down Albert Road and past these old Court Chambers a thousand times. As soon as we discovered the building was part of the Albert North regeneration we jumped at the chance to ‘piejack’ it. It’s a fantastic space and our refit will very much reflect Middlesbrough’s industrial heritage.”

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director at Jomast, said: “Albert North is fast becoming a vibrant new business community set in the historic quarter of Middlesbrough, in the heart of the Tees Valley. We are very proud to be working with Middlesbrough Council on the regeneration of this area to make this community a wonderful place to work, drink and eat”