“We’re really excited about this new facility, which is designed to inspire customers by delivering a real step change in the customer experience. It will also help to cement our place as an industry leader in technology and design and enable us to work collaboratively to unlock future growth in our industry."

Matt Pullen, Managing Director of AkzoNobel UK & Ireland

Offering a completely immersive experience, the centre includes an innovation lab and living zone which brings current and future decorative trends to life.

Other features include a showcase store environment, as well as indoor and outdoor hospitality spaces. All spaces have been designed to be easily updated with a new season colour palette, interior trends and new products. The centrepiece is the virtual reality installation, which gives retailers the chance to create and trial potential store layouts so they can instantly weigh up the impact, convenience and fit of different in-store display options before products hit the shelves.

“Our product and service offer can now be more tailored to individual customer needs, the centre will enable us to help customers visualise and experiment with new design options and is the perfect showcase to lift the lid on product and service innovations before they come to market."

Matt Pullen