Winvic constructs new studio in Manchester

Winvic Construction Limited have been contracted by The Hut Group, who themselves are in a joint venture with Stoford Developments, to construct ICON, a new 11.6 acre logistics and global content creation studio, which will be one of the largest content creation studios in Europe and will be based at Icon Manchester Airport.

Once completed, the development will provide logistics and content creation facilities, totalling an area of 168,000sq ft, and office space, totalling an area of 104,000sq ft over four floors, with construction going through four phases, as per the agreements made between THG and Airport City Manchester.

The Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese stated: “This is big news for Manchester and the development of Airport City. We are thrilled to have an international company of THG’s significance based in Airport City generating jobs and investment.”

Phase one of the development programme will comprise of constructing office buildings to form part of the business campus, the campus itself having ground broken over the course next eleven months, and with the project’s completion scheduled for July 2020.

The Joint Managing Director of Stoford Developments, Dan Gallagher added: “It’s always exciting to begin work on site and ICON is no exception. THG choosing Icon Manchester for their new logistics and content creation studio is of significant importance to Manchester and the scheme, adding to the scheme’s already very strong list of tenants.”

Upon said completion, the ICON will house up to 2,000 people and will allow for circa 2,000 roles to be created across THG’s workforce, with such roles including video producers, photographers, and logistics positions.

The Founder and CEO of THG, Matthew Moulding stated: “We have experienced staggering global growth over the last few years, but our Northern roots are still incredibly important to us, which is why we are building ICON and our new HQ here.

“These facilities will bring 1,000s of additional jobs to the region and will help transform the area surrounding Manchester Airport into a hub for employment and creativity.”

The construction of ICON will also support up to 10,000 jobs and will build on from THG’s acquisition and integration of the UK leading content studio, Hangar 7, in 2017 which is now named THG studios.

THG has, since 2015, supplied over 4,000 jobs to the North West.

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