The Landing recruits first three partners

The Landing chief executive Jon Corner described the venture as the UK’s first digital workflow centre and the only usability labs outside London.

“Cross-fertilisation of those spaces is very exciting and we want [The Landing] to be a breeding ground for new talent,” Corner told Broadcast.

“When the first spade went in the ground at MediaCityUK, no one was using iPads and only a few people had Facebook and Twitter accounts – that’s how quickly the media landscape has changed.

“The Landing is about the concept of making TV for the internet age,” Corner said.

The Landing will be split into three areas, with Manchester post facility Sumners leading the content production section, technology consultancy Mediasmiths running the digital workflow centre and iBurbia running the interactive media labs.

Building work at The Landing site concluded last week, when the three partners were confirmed.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises need connectivity and competitive rent, but they can get that in their living room.

“What they really need is to work with other companies that will push and stretch them and provide business opportunities,” said Corner.

Nigel Walley, managing director of iBurbia’s parent company Decipher, said his lab was the first location in the north-west dedicated to consumer research into converged TV formats.

It will also offer a drop-in service for executives to experience every major set-top box, games platform and connected screen.

The Landing has secured £10.6m of external funding from the European Regional DevelopmentFund and Northwest Development Agency, while Salford City Council has committed an additional £3.6m.

An occupancy rate of 80% is expected within 12 months.