Optima set to move into former Lincoln pub next month

Lincoln-based graphic design agency Optima will move to its new head office to house its 20-strong team next month.

The art-deco site of the original Duke of Wellington pub on Broadgate in Lincoln’s city centre, will become Optima’s new design headquarters from March this year, following an extensive restoration and refit.

Optima’s owners Tracy and Simon Shaw purchased the iconic building in October last year, committing to a 16-week restoration project which has included a complete interior refit whilst retaining as many original features as possible, including the main bar.

Simon said: “Lincoln has been our home since we started the business 24 years ago and it feels great that we are going to base our business in such a historic and iconic building in the city.

“We work with many international clients and are proud of our business growth over the past quarter century but we have never strayed from our Lincoln roots, supporting many home-grown and local businesses including Branston Potatoes, Pipers Crisps and the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.”

The pub, which has been closed since 2011 was also a music venue, housing a Northern Soul Club in the 60’s and 70’s and the popular Bivouac Club during the 90’s and Noughties playing host to bands including Saxon, The Killers, The Kaiser Chiefs (as Parva) and Pulp and was an important destination in the city’s music scene.

Simon added: “There has been a pub on this site since the 1700s and this building was rebuilt in 1933 in the Art Deco style. Our design team have worked very sympathetically with the design of our new offices, to preserve the important original features of the building, bringing it back to its former glory.

“We can’t wait to move in and get settled in our new home, we’re very much looking forward to growing into the future.”

Source: CityX

Lincoln digital agency announces £70k partnership with SuperFOIL Insulation

Lincoln-based web development agency, Orisel has announced a new partnership with SuperFOIL Insulation worth £70,000 per year, helping it to quadruple its team in 2019.

The investment will help to drive growth at the agency, enabling Orisel to scale up as a major player in Lincoln’s digital landscape, offering a full design, development and marketing package for businesses.

As part of the partnership, the managing director of SuperFOIL Insulation, William Bown will become a board member of Orisel, bringing his business expertise and experience to the growing brand.

Plans are also in place for Orisel and SuperFOIL to work side by side in a new headquarters to be unveiled soon.

Before he started Orisel in November 2015, director Björn Böjen worked as a web developer at SuperFOIL, helping the company to build its website as well as implementing other IT improvements across the company.

Founder and director of Orisel, Björn Böjen said: “This new partnership with SuperFOIL is a big boost for us. Thanks to the investment, we’ve been able to hire a new web developer, an account manager and a new graphic designer. If it hadn’t been for Will’s support, this progress would have taken another year, so this has significantly accelerated our growth, essentially putting us a year ahead.

“I feel really good about this partnership. It feels like the years of hard work, ambition and vision have paid off and we can now be the company we’ve always strived to become: We can work under our own steam, pursue our goals and, more importantly, the goals of our clients. We’re now in a position where we can make a real impact in the area and the community.”

While the two companies will work in partnership, Orisel and SuperFOIL will remain as separate entities.

Source: CityX