A NEW digital hub tipped to put Warrington ‘on the map’ in the sector will launch later this month.

Digital marketing agency Carpe Diem – which has been working on the plans with Culture Warrington – is scheduled to launch the facility in the Pyramid in the Cultural Quarter on October 18.

The initiative involves attracting small, independent start-ups into a shared space with key services and mentoring support.

During Tuesday’s supporting the local economy policy committee meeting, members heard how the hub hopes to be the start of a new digital creative industry ‘cluster’ in the town centre.

Carpe Diem chief executive Bill Carr said: “It is obviously changing, with the regeneration of the town and what we have to look forward to.

“But we have bit of an issue, in terms of if we just build, it doesn’t naturally mean people are going to come.

“What we need from the digital and creative sector is the people and it is not always about the money that is invested into the town.

“A lot of these businesses tend to start up where they are just provided with an area to flourish.

“They just need to feel like they have got a home somewhere.

“It does present some really good opportunities for us.”

Cllr Tom Jennings, who chairs the committee, hailed the imminent launch following ‘six years of conversations’.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “It will really, hopefully, start to put us on the map for the digital sector.

“First of all, we need to make sure we are not stagnating.

“But it is crucial in terms of attracting those city-makers into the town and ensuring that they realise they can have a cultural experience and they have got job opportunities here.

“And for the businesses currently here, we are bringing that talent.”