CodeBase Stirling, the technology incubator home to more than a dozen companies employing around 80 staff, is celebrating its first year of operation – with a party on 30 August which will attract attendees from across the technology, digital, academic, and business sectors.
“It’s been incredibly encouraging to see the startups starting to cluster together in CodeBase Stirling,” said Stephen Coleman, chief executive and co-founder of CodeBase.
“It’s such a supportive and inclusive community, from the freelancers and remote workers who hotdesk, to the tenant companies experiencing a period of growth.
“It is absolutely vital that the environment is friendly and supportive, so it’s been great to see the companies sharing knowledge and supporting each other. Collaboration is the key to a successful startup community and it’s been fantastic to see CodeBase Stirling grow.
“Since we opened last year, we’ve hosted well over 100 events, including seminars, conferences, tech meetups and networking events.
“We also host Prewired, a fortnightly coding club for under 19s and earlier this year we launched Digital Skills 4 Girls, a free club for girls where they can come and experience a diverse range of digital skills.”
Coleman added: “We also helped run two digital skills challenge programmes with Stirling high schools and hosted visits by several primary schools, as well as forming very close links with both Forth Valley College and the University of Stirling.
“We’ve now grown to a community of 13 companies employing around 80 people, with new jobs constantly being created.
“What’s especially encouraging is that alongside the jobs and opportunities being created for locals, many of the tenants’ staff commute daily from Perthshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh to work in Stirling, bringing the associated economic benefit.
“I’m hugely excited to see what the future holds for Stirling, and I’m sure that the culture of innovation and ambition that we are building in CodeBase will play a key part.”
Councillor Margaret Brisley, convenor of Stirling Council’s finance and economy committee, said: “What a brilliant first year CodeBase have had!
“It’s exciting to see so many new and growing technology businesses coming together in this unique space, and their regular networking events are growing a strong digital community in Stirling.
“It is great that young people are being inspired through CodeBase’s free events run by expert volunteers from university and industry, developing Stirling’s future digital workforce. Best of luck with the next year and the many more that follow.”