A CO-WORKING hub for tech and digital businesses is set to open at Newport’s Information Station.

Tramshed Tech, which was established in 2016 in central Cardiff, is planning to open a new hub over two floors at the old Newport railway station site in Queensway later this year.

Newport council is proposing to relocate its services from the building to the city’s central museum and library.

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It will then sub-lease the building to Tramshed Tech.

Mark John, co-founder and director at Tramshed Tech, said the firm plans to work with the National Software Academy – which is also based in the building – and other partners to expand technology and digital services in the city.

“Our new base in Newport at the city’s Information Station will see Tramshed Tech co-locating with the prestigious National Software Academy, offering an industry pipeline for graduate spin-outs and a hi-tech home for local technology and digital businesses, supported by Welsh Government and Newport City Council,” Mr John said.

“We are extremely excited about the opportunities this new site offers for growing the local tech and digital economy in Newport, working with great local partners to develop tailored business support services and growth/accelerator services for our new tenants and members, expanding our collaborative co-working community in the city as part of the UK-wide Tramshed Tech network.”

The expansion will create five direct jobs at Tramshed Tech, with a further 20-30 estimated at other firms which will occupy the co-working space.

Mr John said the hub will be based on its set-up in Cardiff which includes a range of offices, open-plan co-working spaces and meeting rooms.

The proposal to relocate council services from the Information Station is being made as part of the city council’s budget proposals for the next financial year, saving an estimated £117,000.

Details of the proposal confirms Tramshed Tech will occupy the Information Station, adding this will provide “much needed flexible working space for start-ups” and small and medium-sized enterprises.

There is currently “a lack of such facilities” in Newport, the proposal adds.

At a scrutiny meeting last week, Cllr John Richards said council services provided at the Information Station must not be lost when they are transferred to the central museum and library.

“The Information Station has provided an excellent service to the people of Newport since it has been there and I would be concerned that we maintain the range of services that we provide at the minute when we transfer,” he said.