The Hat Factory is located by Luton Rail and Bus station and is managed by Luton Borough Council (LBC). This former Hat Factory is now home to a Theatre/Cinema, Gallery Space, Basement music/stage venues, professional recording studio and rehearsal spaces.

The Building also houses open plan offices as well as dedicated office units incubating creative industries which includes Stampeade films, Filmstock and Luton Carnival Arts Development Trust as well as creative industry support services such as Headstart and the Arts Development unit. For more information on these and other companies located within the building click on the useful links section and look under businesses located within The Hat Factory.

Integria Limited is a management consultancy specialising in the Creative and Cultural sector. Integria have developed and delivered a number of creative projects including a project in London called ArtEast. The ArtEast project helped over 300 creative organisations including Record labels, Musicians, Fashion designers and Visual Artists.

The Headstart project is a partnership between The Hat Factory (LBC) and Integria Limited. The project which receives funding from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Art Council England, East and LBC will over the next two years will deliver Business and Technical advice coupled with Business incubation facilities on levels two, three and four at The Hat Factory. The Headstart Project will be run and managed by Integria limited on a not for profit basis and will provide access to a wide range of technical services, business support services as well as in house copying and printing services.

Headstart’s Technical support includes Sound Engineers and a Web designers (with wireless networking knowledge) and marketing specialists. Business support is provided by SFEDI qualified business consultants with a wealth of creative and cultural industry knowledge. This includes Record Industry Consultants, Media consultants and Performing Arts and Theatre Consultants.

Andy Grays is the Director of The Hat Factory and in April 2004 at the launch of the venue he set out his vision and aspirations for the Headstart arts incubation project. You can hear what he had to say by clicking on the video link below.

A text transcript is provided for those with no multimedia capabilities.

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Bill Ferguson is the Managing Director of Integria Limited. Bill has extensive knowledge of the creative and cultural sector which he has developed since 1991. Bill was also a consultant to the Creative Strategy for EEDA (East of England Development agency). As well as a CMC and SFEDI qualified consultant, he also is an accomplished musician who gigs regularly with his band. In the Summer of 2005 Bill made the following statement with regards to the project:

"I think the Hat Factory Incubation scheme and associated Headstart programme gives Integria the opportunity and resources to make a big impact on the Luton Arts Scene. We are here to build artistic enterprise, to work with the existing Arts/Business community and to help its economic growth. In addition we want to help and grow those entering the Arts professions and help them over that first step whether it be through self employment or starting an owner managed business we will ease that journey."

We will work with our local business support partners such as Chamber of Commerce, Business Link, Luton Innovation Centre, Luton Borough Council as well as the local Arts organisations to ensure mutual referral to provide our clients the best service. We will also work regionally with Arts Council England East, Junction CDC, Go-East and EEDA to make sure our clients benefit from the growth of interests in arts and the economy which is a major opportunity for this region."