Land Securities backs new retail incubator

TrueStart, the retail and consumer innovation hub backed by sector specialist investor True Capital, is teaming up with Land Securities, the UK’s largest commercial property company, to launch a new innovative hub in Victoria, London. The Victoria area is undergoing a 2 billion pound

renovation scheme led by Land Securities and they have formed a strategic partnership with TrueStart to find the next big thing in retail innovation.

The hub will

open next month in the newly renovated Francis House and will house 20 new businesses a year. The aim of the innovative venture is to allow budding entrepreneurs to “rub shoulders with high-profile retailers, successful entrepreneurs and creatives” and to use the hub to test retail ideas and concepts.

The partnership will give Land Securities and its clients “exposure to the most cutting-edge products and technology developments in the retail and consumer world”. While TrueStart states that the entrepreneurs will, in turn, have access to Land Securities’ people across a number of different disciplines, who will share their expertise and offer them mentoring.

In addition, Land Securities will also offer TrueStart’s start-up businesses access to its portfolio of premium retail locations across the UK.

TrueStart and Land Securities team up for new retail incubator

Ashley Blake, director of retail portfolio management at Land Securities, said: “We are delighted to partner with TrueStart and welcome the hub to Victoria. This partnership means we can help today’s entrepreneurs recognise their potential and succeed as the retailers of tomorrow.

“It gives us first-hand access to the sector-leading innovation and fresh ideas which will shape the retail landscape of the future, allowing us to continue delivering the best retail to consumers in Victoria and beyond.”

Blake added: “It’s also a fantastic opportunity for some of our key people to work with new entrepreneurs and to get first-hand experience of a start-up environment, which will be benefit our future business and their own personal development.”

Matt Truman, co-founder of TrueStart and True Capital, added: “We are excited about the opportunities the partnership will bring both for TrueStart and, most importantly, for our resident entrepreneurs.

“The support of a major blue chip company for the launch of what will be the leading retail and consumer sector specialist innovation hub in Europe is a key milestone in achieving our wider vision to become the first contact for any stakeholder within the retail sector.”

The platform will be one of the only incubators in Europe focused on the retail and consumer sectors.