THE first unit in the redeveloped Carriage Works has opened its doors.

Businesses have begun to move into the £2 million innovation incubation hub known as the Workshed, which aims to attract a range of small businesses to set up shop in the heart of Swindon.

To protect the grade 2 listed building, every alteration made must be reversible, which has lead to some strikingly-designed spaces.

Old Great Western Works floorboards have been upcycled into doors and an effort has been made to keep the industrial look of the site intact while installing high-tech facilities that modern businesses need.

The £2 million Workshed is managed by The Enterprise Network includes two units with a combined 150 work spaces – one is fully furnished and open, the other will be ready before the end of the year.

They feature meeting rooms, offices, and large open-plan spaces with dozens of desks that can be hired for just £75 each a month.

Bravedog, who did the branding for the centre, and The Carto Group moved in last week.

Nick Prescott, Bravedog’s managing director, said: “It’s such a different space to anything else in Swindon.

“We’re big fans of the architecture and the fact that they’ve preserved the heritage, and the location is absolutely perfect.

“Where we were before, in Elgin, we’d deter clients from meeting us at our offices, but we can’t wait to show them these new studios.

“This isn’t like being in an office, it’s more like a collaborative work space and social area.

“It’s very early days so it’s a little bit quiet around here, but this has a lot of opportunities for businesses to work and grow with one another.”

Forward Swindon is responsible for securing the funding and creating a viable plan for every part of the project - so far, everything’s going smoothly.

Paul Chamberlain from Forward Swindon said: “We are on track to deliver this on-budget – it’s a miracle but we’re doing it.

“Part of our plan is to redevelop the lower floor spaces and we’ve had applications from cafes, barbers, and microbreweries.

“We also want to reflect the heritage of the building through artwork on the walls and perhaps an exhibition of artefacts.

“This is a great front room for all of Swindon.”

Coun Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for the Town Centre, said: “It’s been a long time coming but it’s going well, come back in five years and it'll be buzzing.

“This is proving to be a viable financial investment for Swindon Borough Council and we know that many businesses are waiting to move in.

“A lot of big businesses can see that this is a great place to meet their clients, next to the station, 40 minutes from London at the tenth of the price of a London office.

"Industrial business park offices all look the same, but we can customise these to suit the clients and they can enjoy their space.

“The Great Western Works were at the heart of Victorian innovation so to be able to use these great buildings as a base for Swindon’s up and coming firms is something I’m sure Brunel himself would have approved of.

“The Workshed has only just opened, but there is already a vibrancy about the place and you can sense this really will be the go-to place for technological excellence."

The University of Wales Trinity St David will set up a Cultural Heritage Institute in Unit 11 which, along with the rest of the West Shed, will make up the second phase of redevelopment

Construction work on this phase will begin later in the year.

Looking ahead into the future, Forward Swindon are seeking partners to help regenerate the rest of the West Shed and start filling spaces in the East Shed.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Workshed can contact Jol Rose, of The Enterprise Network, by email at: info@theworkshed.co.uk or by calling 01793 230322.