Recursive
Having relocated to Ashford from Brighton in 2016, Recursive is an innovative technology consultancy practice which designs the content and technical fit out for buildings. This can take a variety of forms, but fundamentally involves creating impactful and engaging experiences for offices, museums, retail outlets, art galleries and public spaces.
The company works directly with an impressive portfolio of clients both in the UK and globally to, in their own words, ‘make buildings come alive’. Their most impressive work to date has included leading on the AV, multimedia and infrastructure elements of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)’s £30 million refurbishment. The team has also built a bespoke and immersive solution for how visitors can engage with content at The Qatar National Library and worked on a theatrical audio project for Disney’s Fantasia at The Vaults, London.
The business’ growth and need for flexibility led Recursive to choose Park Mall in Ashford as the base for their main office. The team also operates across other sites in the borough having used warehouse space at Carlton Road Business Park and Elwick Place to build 1-1 mock-ups of the spaces they are creating for their clients.
Ashford Borough Council has also been amazingly supportive of us from the very beginning. Their approach and vision for growing creative businesses is outstanding and I can’t imagine a more proactive team.
David Yates, Founder and Managing Director of Recursive
Founder and Managing Director of Recursive, David Yates, explains what Ashford has offered their business: “We were looking for flexible and creative spaces and worked closely with Ashford Borough Council. He advised us that the Jasmin Vardimon Company operated very similarly to us and we ended up sharing a space with them while we worked on our first growth project.
“We have found that Ashford is so well connected with its routes to London and the continent. For example, the Vice President of Puma North America and the creative team at Burberry have got the train to Ashford for client meetings. Being able to get clients down from London in less than 40 minutes and having the space to show them a full-size mock-up of the environment is invaluable.
“Ashford also has such a range of flexible commercial property, which we struggled to find in Brighton. We have hired out space in the likes of Carlton Road and Elwick Place, which has allowed our business to do things it couldn’t have done anywhere else.
“Ashford Borough Council has also been amazingly supportive of us from the very beginning. Their approach and vision for growing creative businesses is outstanding and I can’t imagine a more proactive team.”
Being able to get clients down from London in less than 40 minutes and having the space to show them a full-size mock-up of the environment is invaluable.
David Yates, Founder and Managing Director of Recursive
The international nature of many of Recursive’s projects has meant they haven’t been able to travel in the same way as they had before the coronavirus pandemic. David continues:
“We have had to be creative and find solutions remotely. Work has very much continued and in fact we’ve never been busier. Like many businesses, we’ve had to rework budgets and plans to support our clients, but we’re proud to be continuing to deliver our projects.”
David concludes by looking ahead to the future: “With all the new spaces and investment within the town, there is a positive future for Ashford. The upcoming Newtown Works project is very exciting, it’s fantastic to get that kind of investment outside of London. There are also so many opportunities for business growth and I’d wholly encourage businesses to consider relocating to the area, you can’t buy a supportive council!”
