Code Computerlove is a design and innovation agency, part of EssenceMediacom North.
Code recently moved into its new home on the former Granada Studios site at Enterprise City in Manchester, WPP’s first UK campus outside of London.
The agency was founded back in 1999 by Tony Foggett, Louis Georgiou and Wini Tse, and merged with EssenceMediacom North back in 2016.
Following the move to Code’s brand new home, we take a peek behind the scenes to find out what happens there…
Gemma Handley, managing director at Code Computerlove, introduces us to the agency’s Manchester office…
Where is it?
Quay Street, past the ABC building and just before the Irwell Street Bridge, so it’s right in the heart of Enterprise City and next door to Spinningfields.
The full address is 1 New Quay St, Manchester M3 4BN.
How big is it?
It’s a 67,000 sq ft space designed by BDG Architecture + Design. Split over eight floors, the campus provides a highly collaborative and dynamic co-working area for all WPP agencies. We’re based on the sixth floor, along with Cheetham Bell and EssenceMediacom.
The campus is a fantastic space with three double-height social hubs, open and light working spaces throughout, a roof terrace with views across the city, and a café, bar, and theatre-style event space.
What happens there?
We operate a flexible hybrid model, with our Computerlovers usually coming to the campus two to three days per week. A big part of our culture thrives on honest reflection, feedback and open conversations, and we’ve worked hard to ensure these things continue during both remote and hybrid work.
Many of us use the space specifically on certain days, whether to have a physical team day or host a client workshop or meeting. Once a month, we have a company meeting where we all get together, reflect on the previous month, and showcase our brilliant work. There’s our on-site UX lab, too, which we use for user testing and research.
Events are also really popular here, and there’s always lots going on for everyone to get involved with, from yoga classes on the roof terrace, gaming sessions, wine-tasting events, cinema nights and all sorts of social activities.
What sort of work goes on?
We’re a 75-strong digital team – strategists, consultants, designers, engineers, testers, conversion and content specialists.
We work with our partners to help them improve the things they already have: design, build, or rebuild their digital experiences and help explore the ‘what else’ for their business. We also coach, train and organise their teams to create and sustain success for the long term.
The office has been ideal for us to invite clients in to host workshops and kick-off pieces of work collaboratively.
Why is the workplace appropriate?
WPP has put inclusive design at the heart of the campus to meet our ever-evolving and diverse needs, including flexible workspaces that reflect a continued focus on positive mental health and well-being.
Sustainability is also at the centre of the renovation – as it is for all new WPP campus buildings – targeting a BREEAM rating of Excellent.
Who works there?
There are 550 of us here from long-established WPP agencies in Manchester – including EssenceMediacom, Cheetham Bell, Wavemaker, CSP Commerce and Kinetic – as well as Ogilvy Health and VMLY&R Health.
