International tech firms take 25,000 sq ft at Violet 

Australian company Blackmagic Design and China-based Geek+ have taken space at the £17.8m innovation hub, part of Sci-Tech Daresbury. 

Violet, which Willmott Dixon handed over in February, is a 48,000 sq ft office development delivered by a joint venture between Langtree, Science and Technology Facilities Council and Halton Council. 

Blackmagic and Geek+ are the first arrivals at Violet, part of the wider Halton science and technology campus.

Blackmagic has taken the 19,000 sq ft V1 building, one of three at Violet. The company specialises in the creation of creative video technology through products such as cameras and software and hardware for editing. 

The company’s Violet office will be the headquarters for its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  

Stuart Ashton, director at Blackmagic Design, said: “Sci-Tech Daresbury is a vibrant community with outstanding facilities that will bring a lot of energy to our business.  

“The North West is a thriving hub for innovation with access to many leading technical colleges and universities that will be important to our future growth and success.”  

Geek+ will occupy 6,300 sq ft at V3. Credit: via Influential

Geek+ is a Beijing-headquartered technology company that specialises in smart logistics, including robotics for industries including fashion and ecommerce. 

The company will employ around 30 staff from 6,300 sq ft in V3 at Violet. 

Geek+ already has a connection to Sci-Tech Daresbury, with UK and Ireland partner Breathe Technologies – which delivers warehouse automation systems – located at Techspace Two.  

Simon Houghton, Geek+’s head of sales for UK & Ireland, said: “We are really impressed by what Sci-Tech Daresbury and Violet have to offer. From the high-quality offices, lab space and workshops to the R&D, leisure and catering facilities. Everything is all in one location, and it provides the perfect base from which to grow our business in the UK.”   

Further lettings at Violet are expected to be announced in the coming months. 

Violet was backed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which provided a £2.5m loan from its Urban Development Fund and £5.9m from the Chrysalis Fund.  

The development comprises two buildings – V2 and V3 – providing 12,000 sq ft each and one building V1, which is 19,000 sq ft.  

John Downes, chief executive officer of Langtree and chairman of Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “We are very excited to welcome Blackmagic Design and Geek+ to the Sci-Tech Daresbury family.  

“These international companies prove that Violet has made the campus an extremely desirable location for cutting edge and scaling businesses from across the world and this expansion of our community is yet more evidence that the North West and specifically the Liverpool City Region is taking great strides in supporting the UK’s progress in being a technological superpower.”  

In December, planning approval was granted by Halton Council for Ultraviolet, which is located next to Violet and forms the next phase of development within Sci-Tech Daresbury.  

Ultraviolet will comprise a further 180,000 sq ft of Grade A office and laboratory space.