A Bristol-based tech firm has announced it is moving to a new base in the city.
Neighbourly is an online platform that helps businesses connect with charitable causes in the local communities they operate in, allowing them to donate money and surplus food, and offer their staff for volunteering opportunities.
The company supports over 20,000 local charities and community causes, and partners with businesses including M&S, Lidl, Sainsbury's, RSA Insurance, B&Q, Samsung and Virgin Media O2.
The firm, which employs 80 people, has said from next week it is moving its operations from Desklodge House on Redcliffe Way to the Engine Shed office building, next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station.
It comes as Neighbourly completes its latest funding round, led by London-based investment firm Guinness Ventures. The company said it would use the money to expand its team and for “accelerating both brand and product development”.
The move to Engine Shed marks a return for Neighbourly, as during its start-up phase it was part of the SETsquared tech incubator which is also based in the building.
Chief executive Steve Butterworth said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Engine Shed as our new base. It’s a dynamic and exciting space where the team can grow and connect as we adapt to new ways of working.
“The move puts us at the heart of innovation in the South West region, amongst other start-up and scale-up tech businesses and entrepreneurs in the tech for good space.”
Since its formation in 2014 Neighbourly, which was among the first businesses in the UK to win B-Corp accreditation, has helped disburse £17.5m in financial donations, 80,000 hours of employee volunteering and redistribute 87 million meals worth of surplus food.
Mr Butterwoth said: “The last few years have been incredibly tough for local communities and businesses alike. For Neighbourly to have been able to grow a technology solution that’s helped organisations have a positive impact at a local level during this time is testament to a changing world in which being a successful business is being one that is a force for good.”
The Engine Shed is operated by the Science Research Foundation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The University of Bristol.
Other occupiers of the facility include research consortium GW4 Alliance and not-for-profit media network organisation Tech Spark, while South West office management company Forward Space also operates co-working space there.
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