One of the first ‘Super Six’ businesses to move into newly built Fareham Innovation Centre, Lumico Digital did what many start-ups must do – bootstrap to survive. With cash in scarce supply, the venture drew upon personal finances to get off the ground before revenues came in on a reliable basis.

“We bootstrapped because we didn’t have any assets, using credit cards to tide us over,” recalled co-founder Steve Kennington.

Some of that money was used for a serviced office here at Fareham Innovation Centre, which opened its doors to innovation companies in April 2015.

“It was money well spent,” said Steve. “We’ve never looked back because a big part of Lumico’s success has been down to the centre, with the continued flexibility to scale workspace up on site and at low financial risk to us.

“Many workspaces want you to sign up to 12, 18 or 24-month contracts. That wasn’t the case here – four weeks was the term.

“With money tight, we moved into a tiny office with two desks, but we had Lumico’s name on the door – we were very proud of that.”

Led by Steve and co-founder Stephen Briney, the growing business soon had to relocate on site – their first premises was about to be swallowed up in the construction of a massive extension. There was a sound reason for this – such was the demand from start-ups and early-stage businesses, the centre was extended in 2018, more than doubling the footprint to 36,375 sq ft.

Lumico’s office was situated in what is now the walkway between the original £5.45m building and the later £7.35m addition.

That demand for the centre’s 55 offices and 20 workshops, along with meeting rooms and a conference/events suite, is evidenced by the fact that, since 2015, 311 businesses have made their home here, either permanently or as a stepping stone. More than 1,300 jobs have been created.

Specialising in custom software development for tailored web and mobile apps, embedded systems and industrial automation, Lumico now employs a team of ten. They include software, electrical and mechanical engineers, working on a range of projects for start-ups and enterprises, such as telematics, big data, cloud, IoT product development and automated production line systems, as well as mobile apps.

“It’s about solving business problems through software development, systems engineering and industrial automation,” Steve summed up.

An example of how occupiers do business with one another here at the centre is illustrated by how Lumico created a virtual reality app for fellow resident SA Energy so that customers can visualise their renewable power set-up in real world.

Away from apps, Lumico designed and manufactured a world-first robotics system which retrieves newly manufactured hard drives from storage stacks for automated shipment – it was designed and built from scratch at Fareham Innovation Centre in just 11 months.

Why the hard drives? Co-founders Steve and Stephen began their careers as graduate software developers at Xyratex in Havant, near Portsmouth, which was later acquired by Seagate, working on large-scale robotic test systems for the hard drive industry.

Steve reflected: “We wouldn’t have got started the way we did without the centre’s support. We were able to grow relatively care-free thanks to being able to move into larger premises on site, without the costs and hassle of relocation. A total of nine offices and two workshops!”

When you employ someone, running a business becomes serious.

“You’re responsible for their mortgage, you’ve got to pay them, got to look after them – that was a scary moment, although it was a person we knew very well from a previous job that we’d been on,” Steve said.

“This was a very big deal for us – it was emotional because, you know, you’re suddenly taking on the responsibility of another person. You’re an employer.”

Whilst the pandemic meant reining in operations and working remotely, Lumico maintained an office at the centre out of loyalty.

“We just didn’t feel comfortable leaving the centre,” Steve said.

All three ‘Lumicos’ were soon back on site – and the business has since gone from strength to strength, requiring larger workspaces at each new peak. That included one of the 20 workshops – this was where the world’s first robotics system of its kind was made, although a panel to the front entrance had to be temporarily taken apart so the unique, large product could be removed for shipping abroad!

Steve laughed: “Obviously this had to be done in a day because the whole thing is open. Fun days – days when you wake up and you’re like, I don’t know how we are going to do this, but we’re going to do it somehow.”

And do it, Lumico did.

After many years here at Fareham Innovation Centre, the expanding business becomes the 50^th occupier to graduate from the building.

Steve explained: “Through a holding company, we’ve bought a freehold unit at nearby Daedalus Park – Centaur Unit 3 – which will be our headquarters, with R&D, laboratory and office space, from spring 2026.

“Lumico wouldn’t be where it is without Fareham Innovation Centre – we are leaving because we’ve outgrown suitable workspace. That is a lovely problem to have.”

The company is the first of the ‘Super Six’ to relocate – the others, all successful too, remain on site.

They are 3-Sci, creator of a range of industrial monitoring products designed for challenging environments, web design agency Chemical Design, DQ Global, a world leader in data quality solutions, Eldo Web Design and Flylogix, a pioneer of unmanned aviation.

From left, Lumico Digital’s co-founders Stephen Briney and Steve Kennington, with the world’s first robotic automated storage and retrieval system, designed and built at Fareham Innovation Centre.

Thinking of renting a space at Fareham Innovation Centre? Click here for availability or contact our Centre Director, Stephen for more information at sbrownlie@oxin.co.uk