Knowledge Gateway

Investing in innovation

Set in mature parkland on our Colchester Campus, since 2010 the Knowledge Gateway has been growing apace, after an initial £13m investment to build roads and infrastructure.

Today, it's the home to SME hotspot Parkside Office Village, with more than 20 resident companies and another phase underway, plus our £21m carbon-neutral Essex Business School which opened in 2015.

The Knowledge Gateway's Innovation Centre provides the space plus the vital hands-on support to help 50 start-ups and small businesses scale-up and succeed plus it is also home to a state-of-the-art creative digital studio, Studio X.

Excellent on-campus facilities

• research facilities including ESSEXLab
• state-of-the-art interpreting lab similar to UN standards
• four-star Wivenhoe House Hotel and brasserie
• conferences on-campus arranged by Event Essex
• childcare at Wivenhoe Park nursery 8am to 6pm
• graphic design and print for your marketing
• sports centre and gym with membership and classes
• excellent cafes, restaurants and bars
• Mini-supermarket
• Lakeside Theatre and Art Exchange gallery
• landscaped parkland covering more than 200 acres

Colchester as your business base

Colchester offers many benefits as a base for your business. It has rapid growth, with the population forecast to increase by 24% to 224,700 by 2031 backed by major regeneration efforts by Colchester Borough Council.

As well as a great range of shops and services, the area offers superb quality of life for employees, with Dedham Vale and Constable Country within a few miles, rural Suffolk to the north and the many picturesque Essex coastal towns and villages to the east, all easily commutable from the Knowledge Gateway.

Colchester has some of the best schools in the country, including two grammar schools, and a vibrant arts scene including the Firstsite visual arts centre, the Mercury Theatre and Colchester Arts Centre.

Bespoke development

The Knowledge Gateway has designated space for small, medium and larger businesses choosing to design their own office space or headquarters, by working with our design and build team. Get in touch with us to find out more.

Knowledge Gateway transport links

• Road 60 miles from central London on the A12
• Rail 46 minutes from London Liverpool Street
• Air 30 miles to London Stansted Airport and 44 miles to Southend Airport

Map and directions

• View our location on Google Maps
• Travelling to our Colchester Campus