We’ve just been recognised as the New Business Launch of the Year at the Estate Gazette Awards 2025. And yes, we’re thrilled!

The judges said: "Given that limited track records often challenge young companies, the judges were looking for ambition, innovation, and a business plan capable of shaking up the sector. SCIOPOLIS stood out for addressing a clear market gap, combining cutting-edge innovation, social impact, scalability, and strong institutional backing"

Recognition like this matters. It shows that the flywheel is starting to move, our vision of building innovation hubs across the UK is gaining traction, and the wider industry is taking notice.

The category celebrated ambition, innovation, and a business plan with the potential to shake up the sector, and that’s exactly what we’re here to do.

It’s great to be recognised by a prestigious Built Environment publication, but here’s the irony: at Sciopolis, we’ve always believed that building is only a small part of what we do. The real story is what happens inside the building.

More Than Bricks and Mortar

Our CEO Charlie Mitchell put it best in a recent interview:

“I’m an engineer, so I get really excited about buildings. But in reality, building are only about 50% of our proposition. The more important 50% is the service proposition we wrap around it, and in particular the work we do to  create a useful community, to connect our tenants with the right people and to help them grow their businesses.”

That other 50% is where the real value lies. It’s about:

• Taking away the pain, by offering ready-to-occupy labs and offices, so growing companies don’t waste months negotiating leases, hiring lawyers or managing contractors.

• Building an active and supporting community through events and installing collaboration as a culture.

• Creating places that innovators and their teams want to be.

• Supporting tenants with their innovation, by linking them with trusted partners who can provide equipment, materials, branding, advice of all kinds, mentors, and connections into universities and institutions  they’d otherwise spend months trying to find.

  
  

That doesn’t mean the building isn’t important. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

If you design it well, you stop it from ever being a problem. You systematically remove friction in the way tenants use it. You design spaces that promote collaboration. You make reception permeable and exciting, not a security moat. You create a building that fades into the background because it works so well that people don’t even need to talk about it.

Recognition and Expansion

So yes, we’re proud of the award. It’s recognition of the hard work we’ve put in, and a sign that other people think we’re heading in the right direction.

But we’re even prouder of the fact that Estates Gazette has recognised the bigger picture in their coverage of our UK-wide expansion plans, showing how the right infrastructure can accelerate innovation and help grow the UK economy.

Because while the award celebrates the launch of our business, the coverage highlights what makes us different: the way we’re putting innovators first and building a network of hubs across the UK, where they can thrive.

Are you a landlord or university looking to build an innovation hub?

Or a science and technology venture looking for ready to occupy lab and office space with great ecosystem support?

👉 Read Sciopolis for landlords and ventures and get in touch

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