With its striking blend of restored Victorian architecture, rich history and contemporary design, Campfield is redefining what a creative tech campus can be in Manchester.
Reopened by Allied London in June, the 130,000 sq ft development spans three interconnected buildings, including two restored Victorian market halls, that once stood derelict near the Science and Industry Museum.
Now, they’ve been given a new lease of life as a reimagined hub for the city’s growing tech and creative sectors.
In the latest instalment of Prolific North’s Spaces and Places series – where we spotlight some of the North’s most inspiring workspaces – we take a look inside this ambitious new campus to see how it’s helping to supercharge the growth of creative and tech businesses.
READ MORE: Inside the £13m transformation of Manchester’s historic King’s House
Managed by Department, the flexible workspace operator behind Bonded Warehouse, XYZ and The Globe Building, Campfield brings together a full mix of flexible offices, studios, and creative facilities all under one roof.
The so-called ‘mega campus’ also houses Exchange, a tech accelerator focused on supporting start-ups and scale-ready businesses across deep tech, the creative industries and content production.
From “expert-led” workshops on funding, leadership and sales through to coaching, mentoring and investor introductions, Exchange equips founders with the “tools and connections to grow”.
“Exchange’s move to Campfield was driven by the launch of our new programme and the introduction of a second cohort, which naturally created the need for more space,” says Rich Jones, Head of Exchange.
“We required a dedicated environment with flexible facilities that could accommodate future growth and encourage collaboration among our members. Campfield provides exactly that – it’s the most collaborative environment in the city, with open-plan design and adaptable amenities that offer the perfect platform for our young, high-potential businesses.”
The space at Campfield includes hot-desk areas, hireable meeting rooms, collaboration zones, workshop spaces for group sessions, access to creative studios, and a dedicated event space for large-scale industry gatherings.
“Purposefully designed” for tech, digital and creative companies, it has become the “ideal home” for Exchange’s expanding community. The accelerator has recently launched its 10th start-up cohort and first-ever growth programme.
“Our relocation to Campfield represents the next chapter for Exchange as a multi-stage support vehicle for emerging and scaling businesses,” explains Jones. “We’re here to remove the barriers to growing and scaling.”
Beyond the bricks and workspace design, what truly sets Campfield apart is its “community”.
“It’s home to a wider network of tech, digital, and creative businesses, meaning Exchange members are surrounded by an active ecosystem of established talent. This proximity encourages collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the organic growth of ideas, making Campfield one of the most dynamic creative and innovation hubs in the city.”
So how does being based within the wider St. John’s neighbourhood benefit tech and creative companies – and how does Exchange fit into that ecosystem?
“It’s a place where tech, culture and creativity collide. For our Exchange members, being here means instant access to a network of big-name corporates, partners and like-minded entrepreneurs. Exchange is the front door into that ecosystem: we’re the launchpad for early-stage founders who want to scale in one of the most exciting neighbourhoods in the city.”
