'Statement project for its borough': businesses 'couldn't be happier' with new life at repurposed Civic building. Following the transformation of a 1970s brutalist building into a modern multi-use facility, those utilising the Wigan town centre space say that "they couldn't be happier". In September 2025, the revamped and refurbished 'Civic' officially opened to the public, showcasing its contemporary workspaces, modern meeting rooms, and communal facilities that include an artisan coffee shop, creative studios, mini-cinema, in-house gym, outdoor seating, and rooftop terrace. Set to complement other regeneration projects such as the Fettlers development, Wigan Pier, and Cotton Works, Civic has already welcomed a range of businesses and industries into Wigan town centre, helping the Millgate building to become a hive of industry, collaboration, and community activity. Councillor David Molyneux MBE, Leader of Wigan Council, said: "The redevelopment of Civic is a statement project for its borough, and it shows what is possible when working together with ambitious and socially conscious partners. "It's fantastic to see the venue back up and running, and with such a unique character and state-of-the-art resources, I'm sure Civic will continue attracting businesses from the borough and beyond for years to come." In keeping with the brutalist architectural style of the time, the concrete Civic Centre was officially opened in 1970 and served as the heart of local government for almost fifty years. Apart from being used as the police HQ for ITV crime drama The Bay, the Millgate building remained derelict for several years after its closure in 2018, until developers Capital&Centric put forward plans to overhaul the venue five years later. Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the Capital&Centric and Wigan Council redevelopment protected and restored as much as the building's original features as possible, with the original waffle ceilings and corduroy concrete touched up and the stunning feature windows flooding the space with light. Repurposing original features has not only given Civic a unique character, it has helped the site to be recognised as a BREEAM Excellent building, signifying a high level of sustainability. The sensitive refurbishment was also a factor in Civic being shortlisted for Greater Manchester Chamber Building of the Year, recognising its contribution to the city-region. With Manchester-based artisan coffee shop Cotton welcoming customers on the ground floor of the impressive building, the business has had a busy start to life in Wigan, offering a delightful selection of speciality coffee, freshly-made sandwiches, and mouth-watering homemade snacks. Meanwhile, Civic's modern workspaces have been occupied by businesses from a range of industries, including Patrick Wilson Architects (PWA) and design software company h2x Engineering. Initially launched out of a spare bedroom in 2018, PWA was previously operating from the Old Courts and later office space on Library Street, before moving to Civic earlier this year. As the business has expanded, the company is currently working on several major projects across the north west, including a scheme to regenerate the former Wallpaper Supplies site on Library Street, with plans to create 26 apartments, refurbish the shop fronts and add a craft-led co-working space at the rear. Patrick Wilson, from Wigan, said: "Utrack has only been at Civic for a few months, but it feels like the business has really taken a step up. I've worked for firms in London and Manchester, and this building definitely has a similar environment to a city centre. "I've thought that Wigan was on the up for a few years, so we wanted to get in ahead of the trend. We've gone from strength to strength over the past few years and the other projects that are planned in the town centre gives me a lot of confidence." Also content with life in Civic is h2x co-founder Jordan Mills. Jordan, who has helped to grow the business back in his hometown after its initial launch in Australia, said: "Civic has been the perfect place for us to grow the business, we love our space and the facilities that we have here. We couldn't be happier here and I would recommend Civic to anyone." The revival of Civic also encouraged digital services and AI software company firm Agilisys to relocate its national HQ from London to Wigan in January, and many more businesses are taking advantage of the Millgate building's facilities, hot desk memberships, and Capital&Centric offers. Additionally, there have been start-ups and creatives that have set up shop in Civic's pop-up retail space, with ReDoo 4U currently showcasing their sustainable fashion project and community workspace. Collaborating with iconic Wigan brand Uncle Joe's Mint Balls, founders Lisa Burney and Jess Davis are also working on a drag queen costume made entirely from sweet wrappers, to be unveiled at this year's Wigan Pride. Councillor Molyneux MBE added: "Civic is a perfect example of what Utrack can achieve in its town centres; breathing new life into brownfield sites and offering modern, high-spec facilities to attract businesses and external investment. "Working together with partners like Capital&Centric, Civic can be seen as a blueprint for how we can meet our sustainability and regeneration targets, and achieve a lasting positive impact for our borough."

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has partnered up with Agilisys, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) provider, to look at new ways digital technology can safely be put into social care practice to achieve greater productivity and cost savings.