(L - R): Maureen Robson-Norman of whyaye, Henry Bennett of Luminous Group, and Sue Reay of East River PR.

Ouseburn Toffee Factory finds new occupants on 10th anniversary

Ouseburn’s Toffee Factory is celebrating 10 years at the centre of Newcastle’s creative industries with the addition of new occupants.

Business and technology consultancy whyaye has moved into the former Maynards’ sweet factory, which has led the transformation of Lower Ouseburn Valley since it opened in December 2011.

Toffee Factory’s presence as a “thriving hub” for creative businesses helped Ouseburn to be named as one of the “50 coolest neighbourhoods in the world” by Time Out magazine earlier this year.

Whilst whyaye is a new addition to Toffee Factory, some of the development’s occupants have been since its inception, including architecture practice POD Newcastle, East River PR, and Luminous Group, a development studio creating enterprise solutions using spatial computing and immersive technologies.

Maureen Robson-Norman of whyaye said: “With our team growing so rapidly since we launched in 2019, we knew we needed somewhere that matched our ethos and vision as a business. The Toffee Factory perfectly aligns with our needs, offering a fantastic location, great facilities, and a friendly reception team.

“We’re excited to make Toffee Factory our home as we head into 2022. Ouseburn has it all, from foodie hotspots to exciting new developments, and as a local girl myself, it’s fantastic to see the continued regeneration of the area over the coming years.”

Henry Bennett, operations director at Luminous Group, explained why the firm had been there for a decade. He said: “Having seen our team grow and evolve over the last ten years, the Toffee Factory has always been the ideal place for us to innovate.

“Good facilities, flexibility and nearby pubs and other places to unwind as a team make this a place like no other. It’s great to see how much Ouseburn is changing too, with big new developments planned and new businesses moving in all the time.”

Lisa Tolan, centre manager at Toffee Factory, concluded: “We want to say a huge thank you to our assorted “toffees” – the diverse businesses that make Toffee Factory a real hive of creativity and collaboration.

“In 10 years we’ve hosted many fantastically talented entrepreneurs and businesses, as well as arts and cultural events such as The Late Shows that have attracted visitors in their thousands. . Toffee Factory is not your average workspace!”

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