The fast-growing company behind a platform for buying and selling renewable energy has moved to the 91,000 sq ft Base at Manchester Science Park. Having signed a five-year lease to take 4,000 sq ft at Base, UrbanChain says its new headquarters, situated in the heart of Manchester’s knowledge quarter, will help them recruit the talent they need to match their expansion ambitions.
Working closely with the Bruntwood SciTech team to design and fit-out their new office space, this move represents a new chapter of sophistication for the business as they embark on further growth.
Backed by a leading European investment group, UrbanChain is the UK’s leading provider of peer-to-peer energy exchange services. It decouples renewable energy and consumers from the volatile wholesale market and creates an alternative market with renewables to sell directly to people who want it, making green energy viable without subsidies and affordable for all.
Office buildings, data centres, hospitals, universities, housing associations, energy suppliers, industrial sites, local authorities, and green energy generators all trade within the regulated platform which is blockchain-backed and powered by AI.
Aligning to UrbanChain’s own ethos and focus on green energy, Base benefits from a number of sustainability measures and operates at Net Zero Carbon across the building’s communal areas. Other measures include an A-rated EPC, 704m2 of PV solar power, a hybrid heating and cooling system, and the use of recycled materials to create alternative flooring finishes.
Somayeh Taheri, Founder and CEO of UrbanChain, noted, “With a team rapidly growing beyond 50 people, we are delighted to call Base our new home. Ofgem granted UrbanChain an electricity supply licence a handful of weeks ago, triggering another breakthrough in our journey. It means we can offer green energy customers new and improved products while giving renewable generators more control. As we also now embark on a Series B fundraise, we feel we have a working environment which aligns our talented workforce with our UK and international growth strategy.”
Josh Whiteley, Commercial Director for Bruntwood SciTech, added, “We’re delighted to be supporting UrbanChain with their next phase of growth. From starting out with a single desk in 2018, we’ve witnessed them go from strength to strength – growing with us; expanding into various spaces within the Park, before reaching this milestone and settling in our state-of-the-art office development, Base. We can’t wait to see what happens next on their journey.”
The relocation to Manchester Science Park signifies a pivotal moment for UrbanChain as it continues to grow and innovate in the renewable energy sector.