Making Connections: University of Dundee Greenhouse

Representative of the Greenhouse: Jamie Shek

Location of the meeting: The Greenhouse, Queen Mother Building, University of Dundee

Objective: To establish the close connection between the operation of the Greenhouse and the idea for my personal project

‘The Greenhouse’ is a business pre-incubator facility located in a small section of the Queen Mother Building, part of the University of Dundee.  It provides fully equipped office space for students and staff interested in starting up their own business.

 The space provides students or staff with a place to draft a business plan, seek funding and develop a product/service.  To earn a place in the Greenhouse, each tenant must demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and have a project that shows potential to become a real business.

The Greenhouse facilities offer a number of business essentials including:

• A fully equipped work station for each tenant
• Laptop Computer
• Internet Access
• 6 months free rent

As well as all these fantastic facilities, the Greenhouse provides each tenant with a business base, an identity and address for their business.

In visiting the Greenhouse I noticed that the space accommodated for 7 occupants -these included: 3 x life science students, a web designer, an architect, a social media business and a jeweler (Kate Pickering -Vanilla Ink).  When talking to Jamie he explained that each occupant uses the space when and how they like it.  He emphaised the benefit of being able to use the space as a business address -allowing clients/public to recognise the connection between the business and a well established University.

Here are a few images of the space:

If I’m honest, I expected more from a space of ‘creativity’ and ‘business’ however I am aware that the reason is because the University hasn’t allocated a building to this type of work (as of yet).  With this is mind I want to produce a space that evokes creativity so that graduates are encouraged to integrate with one another in order to maintain their creative drive.

To further my research into what the University currently does for graduates I plan to contact the Enterprise Gym.  I look forward to taking my next step.