A home for new ideas – works begin on campus innovation hub

20 Feb 2026

Works have commenced on William Kay House on Oxford Road, putting innovation at the heart of campus for staff and students.

A powerhouse of innovation

We are creating a dynamic new innovation hub at the heart of campus – an open and collaborative space designed to bring together staff, students, partners and the wider ecosystem, making our innovation activities more accessible and impactful than ever before. This hub will be home to Unit M and a range of other University innovation services, providing flexible event, meeting and workspaces that encourage cross-campus and cross-city collaboration. To realise this vision we are redeveloping William Kay House, located on Oxford Road opposite the Students’ Union and next to Kro Bar, carefully preserving its unique heritage while creating an inclusive, collaborative environment that is open to all the University’s innovation community.

The development demonstrates the University’s commitment to the role of innovation in driving inclusive growth across the region by putting our innovation activities at the centre of campus life.

The news marks a significant deliverable for our M2035 leap to become a powerhouse of innovation, as we give physical presence to our ambition to build a thriving innovation community across our University.

Making space for innovation

William Kay House is a historic landmark dating back to the nineteenth century. Its heritage and Grade II‑listed status will be carried through the refurbishment process so the new hub remains rooted in the history of our campus but fit for the future.

Once complete, the hub will include flexible office and meeting spaces, a dedicated event space with scope for outdoor events, and room for a wide range of University innovation capabilities to co‑locate, alongside plans for a strong digital connection with Innovate Cambridge’s Glasshouse, as part of the Cambridge x Manchester Innovation Partnership.

Contractor John Turner has been appointed to complete the campus development works over the coming months. The works have been part funded by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Industrial Strategy Zone funding, positioning the hub as a key node in the region’s plans to drive R&D-intensive clusters and innovation-led growth.

The home of collaboration

Innovation is open, and William Kay House will provide a space for staff, students and partners to turn interactions into collaboration that moves ideas forward.

The Professional Services team based in the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) will also be co-located at the hub. As the University’s focal point for student entrepreneurship, being located at William Kay House will help to create new pathways for students and graduates to turn ideas into ventures and embed themselves in the University’s innovation ecosystem.

The development also supports our ambition to build a world-leading innovation ecosystem on the Oxford Road Corridor. It will act as a bridge between our main campus and Sister, our innovation district joint venture development on the former North Campus, and other innovation locations across the city region.

What next?

Renovations are due to be completed by autumn 2026.

As we focus on the delivery of the M2035 strategy, opening the doors to the new innovation hub will mark a significant step in enabling further collaborations that benefit more people, faster.

• Unit M is open to new ideas, open to everyone, and open for business.
• Get in touch – hello@unit-m.co.uk

Professor Duncan Ivison, our President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Starting work on William Kay House is an important step in bringing our Manchester 2035 strategy to life. It will create a space where people can come together to share ideas, work collaboratively with partners and speed up innovation. This hub will help turn our ambitions into practical action and opportunities that benefit our city, our region and beyond.”

John Holden, our Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, said: “Our new innovation hub will play a vital role in bringing our innovation ecosystem together. It gives us the space to connect staff, students, businesses and partners in ways that help turn good ideas into real outcomes for Greater Manchester and beyond. This is about making things happen and ensuring our community is right at the centre of the University’s innovation powerhouse.”

Barra Mac Ruairí, our Chief Property Officer, said: “The innovation hub is an important milestone in the continued development of our campus. It will provide high‑quality, flexible space that brings staff, students and partners together to support innovation at the heart of the University, strengthening our campus for the future.”