University news

More than 45 jobs will be relocated to Glasgow’s east end, when researchers working to address the city’s poor health, move into Bridgeton’s historic Olympia building.

A team of 15 covering five of the University of Glasgow’s schools and nine of its research centres will share the space with 30 staff from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH). 

‌The latest move means almost 2,000 office workers have made Bridgeton or Dalmarnock their new home over the last three years.

Jobs boost for Glasgow's east end

‌Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil welcomed the new tenants on a visit to the Olympia, which was reopened by Clyde Gateway after a £10 million refurbishment. He said: “Thanks to the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and Clyde Gateway’s commitment to redeveloping the area, the east end of Glasgow has transformed beyond recognition over the last few years.

“With the University and GCPH now moving east it’s clear that perceptions are changing and organisations now have the confidence to relocate to this vibrant, evolving area.  

“We’ve already seen how physical changes is improving the lives of the people and communities who live there, and these new 45 jobs will bring even more benefits to the local economy. 

“I’m excited to see how the tenants will continue their valuable research in these new surroundings, and establish how we can bridge the poverty gap and tackle inequalities in Glasgow.”

Ian Manson, the Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway said: “These are 45 jobs new to the east end of Glasgow and it means we are now getting close to almost 2000 office workers having made their new home in Bridgeton or Dalmarnock in the past three years alone.  The spin-offs to the local economy from such numbers are enormous.

“There is no question that the area is being transformed beyond all imagination, helped in part by the work in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, but Clyde Gateway has kept the momentum going ever since as the promised Legacy grows with each passing week and month. 

“This is a particularly important relocation for us.  Our efforts to bring the Olympia back into use some 20 years after it had seemingly closed its doors for the final time have proved very worthwhile.  It is very fitting that Alex Neil has made this historic announcement as it was his decision, back in 2009 in his role as Minister for Housing and Local Communities, to provide us with additional funding to buy the building and bring into public ownership for the first time.

“The decision by the University to move to the east end might raise a few sceptical eyebrows but such people have a very an outdated view of Bridgeton and Dalmarnock and don’t realise our business community is strong, stable and diverse. 

“I’m very confident that many more forward-looking and innovative organisations will also be looking to make their presence felt here in the heart of Scotland’s biggest and most ambitious regeneration area.”

Professor Anne Anderson, Vice-Principal of the University of Glasgow and Head of the College of Social Sciences said: “The University is pleased to be involved in this innovative and ambitious venture, which we believe will boost the potential for our research to meet the expressed needs of the communities in Glasgow.

“This move promises opportunities for closer collaboration between our social scientists, researchers at GCPH and public bodies to undertake substantial and transformative research that will make a real difference to people’s lives in the future.”

GCPH Director, Professor Carol Tannahill said: “The GCPH works with a range of organisations and communities to understand and tackle the causes of poor health and health inequalities.

“We are delighted to be moving into the Olympia with colleagues from the University of Glasgow and to have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing regeneration of the east end of Glasgow. 

“This is an important point in time to build the Commonwealth Games legacy by focussing on improving the health and wellbeing of all of Glasgow’s people and the GCPH team is looking forward to playing its part.”

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Background

Work will begin next month on the fit-out and layout of the top floor of the Olympia with staff likely to move in over the summer months.

The team of academics and researchers will be joining the likes of Police Scotland and the Glasgow Women’s Library as recent newcomers to an area that for years has been home to successful arts and cultural organisations such as Chemikal Underground Record, the David Dale Gallery and Andrew Muirhead, the world’s biggest supplier of leather to the airline industry.

The B-listed Olympia opened in 1911 as the Theatre of Varieties before serving as a 2,500 seat cinema from 1924-74.  It later operated as a bingo hall and furniture warehouse before closing in the early 1990s. It feel into disrepair following a fire in 2004.

Thanks to nearly £2 million funding through the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund, Clyde Gateway bought the building, and with the support of a range of funders carried out an £8 million conversion in 2011 and 2012.

The space now houses a public library, café, performance centre for boxing and Scotland’s first Mediatheque which offers free access to the British Film Institute’s archives.

The GCPH is a partnership between the University of Glasgow, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council funded by the Scottish Government; it has an extensive work programme and range of projects that seek to improve the city’s health and tackle inequalities.

For more information go to Clyde Gateway: http://www.clydegateway.com/

Contact: Gillian Provan :  0131 244 2951// 07580 448914

First published: 25 February 2015