THE latest phase of a multi-million pound scheme to put Colchester at the heart of the UK’s digital economy has been unveiled.

The new £1million building is on the Parkside Office Village on the University of Essex’s Knowledge Gateway research and technology park.

The building will become the base for the Economic and Social Research Council’s Business and Local Government Data Research Centre led by Professor Vania Sena and the university’s Institute for Analytics and Data Science led by Professor Maria Fasli.

It will also house the award-winning Games Hub, which is getting ready to launch its latest skills development programme for computer games designers and is a learning centre for video game creators.

It will also house the university’s Institute for Analytics and Data Science.

South East Local Enterprise Partnership has supported Parkside Office Village from the outset providing loan funding of £2.4million from the Government’s Growing Places Fund for the first phase.

This latest development phase was supported by a further £850,000 in funding.

University vice-chancellor Prof Anthony Forster said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

“This has been crucial in developing Parkside Office Village as a hotspot for innovative businesses.

“SELEP and our partners - including Essex County Council, Colchester Council, Essex Chamber of Commerce and the Haven Gateway Partnership - are helping us fulfil our vision.

“Our strategic aim is for the Knowledge Gateway to be the location of choice in the eastern region for knowledge-based enterprises in science, technology and the creative sector.”

Christian Brodie, chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Parkside Office Village is a glowing example of business and education working together to further the economic growth and development of our region.

“It is a fine model of Government funds being used on projects identified by SELEP and local authorities, in the right places and with the right focus to produce long term gains for the south east.”

Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet member for economic growth and partnerships, said: “Parkside Office Village is a fantastic initiative and I am delighted to see this first phase reach completion.

“It is great to see it become home to so many innovative businesses.”

Tim Young, Colchester Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration and culture, added: “The progress that has been made with Knowledge Gateway has been remarkable both for the University of Essex and for Colchester as a whole.

“The economic benefits for the borough are significant, enabling job creation and providing the skills and facilities for businesses to grow.”

Parkside Office Village now has more than 20 other small and medium sized enterprises.

Future developments on the site include the major £10 million Innovation Centre which, when completed in early 2018, will offer the space and hands-on innovation support for more than 50 small businesses to grow and scale-up. The Knowledge Gateway is also home to the university’s new £21million Essex Business School building.