We are thrilled that work has started on the Central Research Laboratory’s new home at the Plus X Powerhouse in Hayes, West London, and we’re racing towards completion by the end of 2020!

Tripling in size, space and facilities

Next year, Central Research Laboratory (CRL) will move from its current home and expand into new 29,000 square foot premises (still within the Old Vinyl Factory estate) at the Plus X Powerhouse innovation hub, tripling in size, space and facilities.

The stunning new Plus X Powerhouse is a converted Victorian power station designed by award-winning architects Pilbrow and Partners. It will offer light-filled work space and studios for all types of business from freelancers and startups to corporations. Alongside our innovation and accelerator programmes, we will create new collaboration opportunities between business, community and education partners. Find out more here.

Combining vintage and high-tech design

This new Plus X innovation hub will combine vintage and high-tech design to provide inspiring desk, studio space and prototyping studios. There will also be an events auditorium for up to 70 people, an onsite cafe and a lush green courtyard space to fuel fresh thinking. Innovative design features such as carpets made from recycled records nod towards the heritage of the Old Vinyl Factory, whilst sustainably sourced decor, including tabletops made from recycled yoghurt pots and local UK timber, point towards its exciting future.

Plus X innovation hubs support entrepreneurs, inventors, startups, scale-ups and corporations and they will be opening in five locations across the UK in the next five years. We also have a mission to deliver a positive social impact in all our locations, working alongside local communities and education partners. Our first Plus X innovation hub will open in Brighton, spring 2020, and Plus X Powerhouse Hayes will open in Autumn 2020.

Not a cookie-cutter approach

Mat Hunter, Co-CEO of Plus X, said: “Plus X is about creating workspaces that unlock potential, drive business growth, innovation, community collaboration and positive social impact. The success of CRL at The Old Vinyl Factory has shown the possibilities – now we want to expand with a network of innovation hubs in key areas around the country. But this is not about a ‘cookie cutter’ approach: our plans are for a national network but with a localised offer, working with the grain of the local economy to foster entrepreneurs, startups and scale-ups that are at the leading edge of the new economy.”

2020 is a big year as it also marks the fifth anniversary of CRL. Since opening in 2015, CRL has supported more than 100 businesses, including 25 new startups, with more than 60 full-time jobs created and over £5 million in investment raised. Among the numerous success stories are businesses including Aceleron which developed solutions to repurpose car batteries, Mimica which developed a high-tech food freshness indicator, BotsAndUs which developed autonomous tech for public spaces; and multi-award winning Cosi Care which developed a device to soothe chronic eczema. 

The longest running programme of its kind

CRL’s Accelerator Programme is the longest running programme of its kind and its seventh cohort will commence the programme early in the new year. Nine out of ten startups fail worldwide, however, startups that join CRL’s Accelerator Programme have an 80% survival rate. 

While based in the Old Vinyl Factory, also previous home of EMI Records and where the Beatles had their first records pressed, CRL has proudly continued the area’s legacy for innovation. We cannot wait for this to continue as we expand into our new home at the Plus X Powerhouse!

Book a tour

If you are interested in a pre-opening tour of Plus X Powerhouse, please contact Toby Kress, Managing Director at Central Research Laboratory, [email protected]