Science and laboratory space operator Sciontec is taking office space across two floors of The Spine in Liverpool to provide flexible desks for entrepreneurs. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool Science Park and Sensor City operator Sciontec is launching a flexible office space facility at The Spine development in Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter (KQ Liverpool).

Opened in May last year, the £35m building’s anchor tenant is the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) which is occupying 70,000 sq ft of the 155,000 sq ft total space. Now Sciontec Developments is taking space within the RCP’s accommodation.

Called Sciontec AI, the facility will be located on the first and second floors of the 14-floor The Spine, which is located in Paddington Village. The concept is designed to allow businesses the flexibility to move around the Sciontec portfolio with ease, as their needs change.

Ranging from a single desk, to a large private office, Sciontec AI will offer occupants four options, each with a single monthly payment in return for everything they need to work effectively. The offer may eventually be extended to allow customers to use space at other locations such as Liverpool Science Park.

Sciontec is owned by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool. In May 2020 it was announced that Bruntwood Sci-Tech was taking a 25% stake in the venture in a deal worth £12m.

Chief executive Colin Sinclair said: “As we emerge from the pandemic it’s clear that the demand for serviced office type accommodation, with flexible terms, has significantly increased.

“Smaller businesses that were thrust into working from home are eager to get back into the real world and into an environment where those accidental, yet welcome, interactions with like-minded people and businesses can happen.

“The physical space within the RCP floors at The Spine is incredible. Sciontec is extremely excited to be able to use some of their space by bringing our AI product to the market and helping to meet that demand.” 

Sciontec has already welcomed its first trio of businesses to the space, with the Pandemic Institute, LYVA Labs and KQ Liverpool already in occupation.

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Ian Bullock, cheif executive of The RCP, added: “Sciontec’s ambition for providing world-class office accommodation perfectly complements our own mission to create healthy, inspirational spaces for our own employees, members and fellows to enjoy. 

“The Spine is also our thriving education and assessment centre and we are delighted to be working with Sciontec to attract a vibrant community of like-minded, innovative companies to the building.”