Making space for getting all creative

HACK Oldham founder Andy Powell with Bob the Dalek

CREATORS and inventors can learn new skills and drive innovation as a pop-up shop opens in Oldham town centre tomorrow.

The temporary unit at Tommyfield Market will provide a taster of what will be on offer at the Digital Enterprise Hub, the region's biggest permanent high street makerspace, when it opens in Oldham in spring.

The new makerspace, currently being developed at Yorkshire Street, represents a major expansion of Hack Oldham, a community of creative and digital co-worker and makers, who will occupy the basement and ground floor of the new Hub.

Wayra UK Ltd, a start-up accelerator aiming to drive entrepreneurship across the north, will occupy the top floor.

Demonstration areas where people can create, invent and experiment using a variety of materials and maker equipment will be on offer at the pop-up space as well as opportunities for freelancers, sole traders and SMEs to find out more about co-working and desk hire space available at the Digital Enterprise Hub.

Andy Powell, the founder of Hack Oldham, said the pop-up shop aimed to create a buzz ahead of the official spring launch, help people learn new skills and highlight how the makerspace movement had come of age.

"Programmes like BBC 2's Big Life Fix, which brings together designers, inventors and tech experts to fix life problems have really captured the public's imagination and show how the makerspace movement is making a difference," he said.

"The NHS are using hack days on a regular basis to drive innovation - and more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of creatives working collaboratively for educational or social purposes.

"Our guiding principle is to enable people to do things.

"We want to help people become creators rather than just consumers."

Activities

The pop-up makerspace will open on Saturday at 10am with a variety of activities for all ages and interests to try including embroidery demonstrations, electronics and model-making.

Visitors will also be able to learn more about 3D printing and meet Bob, a radio-controlled Dalek.

He said:"Whether it's creating a radio-controlled Dalek, making a 3D printed Ghostbusters proton pack, joining a coding class or attending our digital drop-in centre to learn how to fix your PC, there's something for everyone.

"It's a collaborative, friendly space and I'd especially encourage any freelancer or small business looking for co-working space to get in touch."

The new makerspace is supported by Oldham Council and Councillor Jean Stretton, Oldham Council Leader who said: "Having a large makerspace on our high street shows how Oldham is embracing technology and creativity to give people the skills and confidence to try new things," she said.

"We know that makerspaces can help foster grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship and Hack Oldham has already given people the tools they need to set up their own businesses.

"We're confident that a bigger presence will give more people the opportunity to turn creative business ideas into reality and that's why the new Digital Hub will be such a great asset to the borough."