HI NENC relocates to sustainable office in Newcastle’s innovation hub

Health Innovation North East North Cumbria (HI NENC) has relocated to a state of the art, sustainable office in the heart of Newcastle city centre to accommodate its growing team. 

HI NENC began with a team of two people in 2013, based at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality, on Westgate Road in Newcastle. The move to the larger 1 Citygate signals a new era for the organisation, which was recently successful in securing a third, five-year licence from NHS England.

Regional ecosystem for innovation and research

The recently refurbished 1 Citygate, situated at the top of St James’ Boulevard, is ideally positioned within an innovation and research ecosystem at the Newcastle Helix Innovation District. The office is located on level two of the building, divided into two fully fitted suites that overlook St James’ Park. Suite A comprises hot desks, informal working areas, and meeting pods spread across 2,855 sq. ft. Suite B offers an open-plan space covering 2,113 sq. ft, ideal for hosting larger meetings and workshops with regional partners.

HI NENC is one of 15 regional organisations that make up the national Health Innovation Network. The organisation works with businesses, university, and NHS partners across the North East and North Cumbria to address local and national healthcare priorities, through innovation.

Commitment to sustainability and Net Zero goals

1 Citygate operates with 100% renewable energy, reducing reliance on the national grid and directly lowering Scope 2 emissions. This aligns with HI NENC’s environmental goals to transition to a Net Zero building by 2029. This was set out in its Carbon Reduction Plan and feeds into wider Net Zero targets set by NHS England.

HI NENC’s decision to relocate demonstrates its commitment to creating a greener and healthier environment for employees and the public, setting a precedent for other health and life science organisations to follow suit.

Dr Nicola Hutchinson, Chief Executive at HI NENC said: “We are delighted to have moved into our new office, which not only reflects our commitment to sustainability but also provides us with a larger collaborative space to continue delivering our key priorities – reducing health inequalities, driving economic growth and supporting the adoption of innovation into the NHS.

“It has been a pleasure to witness our team’s growth since we began in 2013. Relocating to Citygate is a pivotal step for our organisation, providing the necessary space for our current team and accommodating future expansion.

“Citygate is located at the heart of Newcastle city centre, easily accessible by public transport and surrounded by neighbours from our regional health and life science ecosystem. We are now within minutes of innovation and research partners, who are based at the Helix site, nearby universities and hospitals, enabling us to collaborate more effectively for the good of the region.

“This milestone marks a significant step forward in our journey towards a more sustainable and prosperous future for our organisation and the region as a whole.”