The Cambridge Community Innovation Centre will be a focus for developing creativity and entrepreneurship among young people and disadvantaged adults both for their own benefit and to the community. A high quality, inclusive centre addressing the lack of affordable premises offering business support and the benefits of co-location for those who need extra support to start up and grow their small business or social enterprise ideas, with additional emphasis on youth training, further education employment and community access.

It will offer flexible, affordable office, workshop and studio workspace units on short term licenses; enterprise education with a particular focus on nurturing social entrepreneurship; space for creative, cultural and arts enterprise groups: with studio, exhibition and rehearsal
rooms and the 'Village Hall', a fully equipped flexible performance space, and a range of youth and community provisions: an advice arcade, youth space, meeting rooms, a crèche, small shop units, a market, a community run café.

The building will be funded in a unique partnership between START international, Cambridgeshire County Council, the St John's Innovation Centre and Citylife, a locally based charitable Industrial and Provident Society which issues bonds for community regeneration.