Finding space for your startup

For Imperial spinouts and other companies starting up, finding space can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive – the last thing you need when you’re getting your business off the ground.   

Various options are available that have office and lab space tailored for startups, and are based on or near our campuses, allowing you to continue ongoing collaborations with the College. Many of them provide other types of support to help you build and strengthen your business.   

These facilities are concentrated at Imperial’s White City Campus, which has been designed to support an entrepreneurial ecosystem – a platform for innovation, entrepreneurship and multidisciplinary research, located at the centre of the growing White City Innovation District. For medical-related companies, it is conveniently close to Hammersmith Hospital and Imperial’s Hammersmith Campus.   

Dedicated spaces & Purpose build

Dedicated space for deep science startups at the White City

The White City Incubator offers flexible access to laboratory space at Imperial’s White City Campus that’s ideal for new and early stage deep-tech companies. It has fitted laboratories supported by a dedicated team, and gives you access to networking and development opportunities and a range of shared equipment. 

Find out more

Purpose-built space for growing companies at Scale Space

As your company grows, your space requirements may change. Scale Space has been created in collaboration with Blenheim Charcot, the UK’s leading digital venture builder, to help innovative companies accelerate their growth. It provides more than 18,000 square metres of tailor-made space for high-growth businesses and scaleups. Users become part of a growing community of academics and innovators. 

Find out more

Longer-term tenancies & Co-working space

Longer-term tenancies at the Translation and Innovation Hub

The I-HUB offers a variety of affordable longer-term tenancy options for companies at any stage of growth, with fully fitted and bespoke laboratory and office space. It brings together businesses from around the globe to work alongside Imperial academics, to facilitate sharing ideas and the commercialisation of research.

Find out more

Co-working space at Regus White City

Regus provides serviced offices around the globe, and has space available on the White City, including private offices, hot-desking and meeting rooms, which can be booked for an hour, a day or as long as you need. They can also provide a virtual address and telephone answering service. 

Find out more

Dept space & Hackspace

Using department space and facilities

Spinout companies generally derive from academic research conducted in department labs and facilities. Some spinouts may be allowed to continue using the department’s facilities and equipment for a fixed period of time depending on a range of criteria, including availability and the department’s academic requirements. Any use of academic facilities must follow the College’s external interests policy.  Some departments may also allow external startups to access their facilities to enhance collaboration opportunities.

Prototyping at the Advanced Hackspace

Imperial’s Advanced Hackspace has purpose-designed prototyping and fabrication facilities open to all at Imperial and now has an SME membership package allowing ad hoc use of its facilities including chemical and bio labs.

Find out more

Useful resources available at this stage of your startup journey