An iconic space for innovation

10,000

STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS

£8M

TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT

2023/24

PLANNED YEAR OF COMPLETION

Situated in an iconic London location, our new building at 29 Marylebone Road is set to become the UK’s most inclusive centre for collaborative enterprise and innovation.

It is our ambition for all students to have the opportunity to benefit from leading enterprise training at

Westminster. Our new eight-storey site at 29 Marylebone Road will be transformed into a place of creativity and connectivity to serve this very purpose, delivering programmes for our students in collaboration with an ever-growing pool of external partners and local businesses, to give our students the leading edge when it comes to their employment prospects.

Accessibility in enterprise The conversion of 29 Marylebone Road into a hub of innovation will provide students with access to a range of benefits including enterprise education programmes, bootcamp training, digital upskilling programmes, enterprise networking events, entrepreneur talks, collaborative project events and exhibitions. Furthermore, this will be an inclusive space, meaning that it will support student entrepreneurs from a wider set of backgrounds. Removing the barriers which particular groups such as women, black and minority ethnic (BAME) and disabled entrepreneurs face, will ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, has a fair shot at their dream and the support they need to thrive and strengthen our economy.

Enabling innovation through design As a modern networking space in central London, 29 Marylebone Road will welcome collaborations between students, alumni and local businesses, bringing together a diverse group of minds to help foster innovative and creative partnerships.

The new facilities to encourage innovation will include: • A start-up centre for budding entrepreneurs to found new businesses. This will incorporate a freelance lab, an incubator for student and graduate entrepreneurs who have a clear business model to develop, and an accelerator where students have regular access to innovators and entrepreneurs in residence. • A practitioner-staffed centre for one-stop advice on the legal aspects of operating a business: from intellectual

property and trademarks, to data protection, health and safety, marketing, environmental regulations, contracts and consumer protection. • Digital labs to train students in the latest digital techniques and apps, alongside bookable digital facilities (including 3D printers and XR technologies) to support the production of prototypes. • An exhibition and event space, showcasing product and service innovations from Westminster’s student start-ups.

The space will also draw on the vast existing facilities at the University, especially those at our adjacent 35 Marylebone Road Campus, which include the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab), Digital Lab, Boardroom, Information Resources and Ambika P3 exhibition space. This will create a thriving enterprise network across the University.

Invest in the innovation We are aiming to have 29 Marylebone Road open and accessible to our stakeholder community by 2024. A year of programme development will then commence for training, workshops, bootcamps, experimental events and student competitions. Once the space is fully operational, it will deliver an intensive schedule of programmes, exhibitions and events, providing a vibrant destination for entrepreneurial activity.

Opposite page: Architect’s impression of 29 Marylebone Road. The building is situated next to our Marylebone Campus.

GET BEHIND THE VISION

The support of our alumni and friends is vital for achieving our visions for 29 Marylebone Road.

There are a number of funding opportunities available to support this multimillion-pound project, which we would be delighted to discuss with you.

If you would like to help us on our journey to really put the University of Westminster on the map for leading the way in inclusive enterprise, please contact Jordan Scammell, Head of Development at development@westminster.ac.uk