IN BUSINESS
●
SCI-TECH Daresbury has reported another year of rapid growth having welcomed 30 companies to the world class campus during 2017.
This brings the total to 132 businesses with a ‘ strong pipeline’ of enquiries already logged for 2018.
The campus’s Innovation Centre alone welcomed 19 more tenants in 2017: ACE UK, Active Data Metrics, Astute Licensing, AWOL Adventure, Blinx Solutions, BluCap, Chart Capture, Concert Care, Delphisonic, Device Trust, Department Of International Trade, Just-R Limited, Magnify Solutions, Mere Digital, Outdoor Product Design, QMS Consultancy, Secure Digitali, SGM Projects and Structural Surveys.
Five companies moved into Vanguard House – Avenista Table Reservations, CAE Technology Services, igroup, ORCHA and pm Connections; and the Innovations Technology Access Centre welcomed four tenants over the same period – Acorn2Oak Innovation Solutions, Dbeam, RE Speciality Chemicals and WaveReach.
The spokeswoman said other highlights in 2017 included Prime Minister Theresa May’s first regional cabinet meeting at the campus where she launched her Industrial Strategy proposals, a visit from Prince Andrew for the Hartree Centre building’s official launch, and being honoured at the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) member awards for being ‘the science campus making the most significant contribution to innovation in the UK’.
A Sci-Tech spokeswoman said expansion is expected to continue during 2018 following the recent planning application for a 42,000 square-foot office complex.
The proposed scheme, working title Project Violet, will involve the construction of three buildings at the campus entry.
John Downes, Langtree group managing director and board member of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture Chain management business, said: company, said: “Sci-Tech Daresbury “As a startup company, it has been a is continuing to see strong appetite very exciting period and our move to for its office and lab space and in the Sci-Tech Daresbury has had a big last 12 months we have experienced impact enabling us to win an imporanother significant period of growth, tant contract with The Stobart Group following a record breaking 2016. at the end of 2017.
“Our culture of collaboration, sci“We are already out-growing our entific expertise and the world-class space, fuelled by the ecosystem that technical facilities of the Science And we are now part of, and are looking to Technology Facilities Council’s expand elsewhere on the campus. (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory all cre“From our first day, we have been ate a unique space for companies to well looked after and appreciated. base their operations. “The way the campus encourages
“The campus is designed to foster collaboration and the way it is run is a collaboration and innovation great selling point for businesses.” between local and international busiAt Techspace One, which opened nesses, academic institutions and in 2017, pharmacy automation firm public sector – connecting ideas, netRobotik Technology launched its works and knowledge together. operation in August, while interna
“We are not resting on our laurels tional tech giant, Hitachi High-Techthough and are looking for even more nologies Europe followed in Septemsuccess inber.theyearahead.Wehavea bold vision for the campus and this Mike Dixon, Hitachi’s nanotechmeans expanding our offer with Pronology section manager, said: “Techject Violet being a key part of that.” space One is a really flexible space
Gareth Bartlett, chief executive of and has allowed us to design it in the Blinx Solutions, a cloud-based Supply way that works for us best and we have now opened an applications lab to house our electron microscopes and scanning probe microscopes.
“This campus is so well placed to connect into industrial and academic expertise in the North West and our move here also means that we are adding new staff to strengthen the company’s applications and technical team and increasing our commitment to microscopy in the UK.”
Liz Ashall-Payne, chief executive at ORCHA, which provides independent and impartial reviews of health and care related apps, said: “We were previously based in Liverpool so were well aware of Sci-Tech Daresbury and its excellent facilities and benefits.
“Given that we were growing at such scale and pace it made sense to move into this like-minded community that could serve our business ambitions more closely and already the move is proving very fruitful.”
Sci-Tech Daresbury is a privatepublic joint-venture partnership between developer Langtree, the STFC and Halton Borough Council.