Birmingham’s flourishing creative sector has been given another boost after a former Custard Factory director set up a new incubator unit.

Danny Fisher, previously commercial director at the creative centre, will open Boxxed in Floodgate Street, Digbeth, in September, and aims to help dozens of start-up businesses.

He has taken on a 10,000 sq ft converted warehouse and restored it with desk space, ‘break-out’ areas and meeting rooms.

Targeting firms in the PR, marketing, web development, design and music industries, among others, Mr Fisher plans to use his industry contacts to give start-up firms access to investors and venture capital.

He already runs a similar business, called Innovation Warehouse, in London, and has invested in 30 companies in the capital.

Mr Fisher said: “Innovation Warehouse has been going for three years and has a lot of traction, focusing primarily on technology and innovation.

“But the scene is very different in London to here.

“Birmingham has a lot to offer. Access is much easier here.

“I am talking to early stage businesses that I know in London and when they come up here they can actually talk to people. It is such a crowded market in London and it is very difficult to raise finance.

“Up here it is a lot easier.”

Mr Fisher, who left the Custard Factory in Digbeth three months ago has invested £50,000 of his own money in the venture, and has a pot set aside to invest in firms. No external funding has been used.

The converted warehouse that houses Boxxed in Floodgate Street
The converted warehouse that houses Boxxed in Floodgate Street

He said he needed to grow between 50,000 sq ft and 300,000 sq ft to make the business sustainable – and plans to do that in 18 months.

He will often join companies as a non-executive director, using equity instead of fees, so he has a direct stake in helping firms.

He said: “I don’t care if it is a T-shirt maker operating out of his bedroom. Success is success and being associated with it puts a smile on my face.

“That is the greatest feeling.

“It’s about creating an eco-system to cross fertilise. It is a ‘six degrees of separation’ thing – everyone has access and can work together.”

Mr Fisher is already working with firms in PR, e-commerce, video production, search engine optimisation and graphic design ahead of the launch.

Boxxed offers start-ups help with accountancy, legal, PR, web design and branding, and Mr Fisher has helped creative firms in the past secure funding through Finance Birmingham, Midven and the Birmingham Post Business Growth Fund.

The Post revealed last week that the owners of the Custard Factory – the largest digital creative hub outside of London – plan to double it in size.

Lucan Gray, son of Custard Factory owner Bennie Gray, said this was on the back of strong demand.

Mr Fisher agreed that Digbeth had a lot going for it.

“I like Digbeth as an area,” he said. “I think it has got a hell of a lot of potential and the plans from the Grays are very positive.

“Together with the other landlords in the area they are all pretty much on the same page and hopefully when the Typhoo building is done there will be a positive impact.”