FEATURE
The Wilton Centre – providing answers for ambitious businesses such as Absolute Antibody .
LAB HUB
Wilton Centre provides answer to lack of laboratory space
The Wilton Centre could provide the answer for ambitious companies who are frustrated by the lack of commercial laboratory space in the North-East .
Nearly 6,000 sq ft – with 2,000 sq ft of office accommodation alongside - has just become available and , as well as the quality of its labs , science businesses at the centre benefit from half a century of know-how and an infrastructure geared up to serve their needs .
Over the years that attractive combination has seen a number of university spin outs choose Wilton Centre as the ideal place to develop and grow . They have come from some of the UK ’ s top educational institutions , including London ’ s Imperial College , Manchester and nearby Durham .
Absolute Antibody was founded in Oxford 13 years ago , opened its manufacturing facility at Wilton Centre in 2014 and then transferred its headquarters there . The company - which in 2021 received the Queen ’ s Award for Enterprise in International Trade for its work during the pandemic – now has customers in 65 countries and sells to 14 of the world ’ s largest pharmaceutical companies .
Seloxium is another Oxford University spinout . It has developed a technology which extracts valuable metals – such as platinum and palladium – from its customers ’ waste .
At Wilton Centre , it has a pilot plant , two offices and a laboratory . It is already in talks with centre management about taking extra space and recruiting more staff if it is successful in winning a major new contract .
Claire Morton , Wilton Centre ’ s leasing and assistant asset manager , said : “ Although laboratory space is at a premium , we always work with businesses here to try to find a solution for their needs . That ’ s particularly the case for companies such as Absolute Antibody which began with one lab and has needed more because of its rapid growth . We always find a way .”
That ’ s also been the case for another occupier , the global company Sappi , which has just acquired a second lab in order to develop new products . In addition to pulp , paper and packaging , Sappi and its process and application team at Wilton Centre are always looking to develop new uses for the constituent parts of a tree - cellulose , lignin , and sugars - underlining the company ’ s objective to “ use every part of the tree to make every day more sustainable ”.
It has just acquired a second lab in order to develop a new product – face creams and moisturisers .
Loughborough University spinout Micropore Technologies relocated to Wilton Centre nine years ago .
“ As the company expanded , Wilton Centre helped us identify additional lab capacity ,” said Micropore ’ s technical manager Dave Palmer .
“ Wilton helped us grow at the time we needed the extra space . The integrated services have also been a significant help , especially when compared to our previous premises where we had to look after everything ourselves .”
Chief operating officer of the Biobased and Biodegradable Industries Association , Dr Jen Vanderhoven , said : “ Having both worked at the Wilton Centre and visited it many times since for events and meetings , I have always been impressed with the mix of the quality of staff , labs and facilities , whilst the building retains its heritage .”
In their laboratories and pilot plants , she thinks the centre ’ s scientific community can make a vital contribution to Teesside ’ s green revolution .
“ This region is transforming into a hub for sustainable chemicals , driven by the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions , adopt greener manufacturing practices , and embrace the circular economy . With its industrial infrastructure , strategic location and growing commitment to innovation , Teesside is uniquely positioned to lead the UK ’ s sustainable chemicals revolution .”
Like many of its occupiers , Wilton Centre is also looking to expand . It has submitted a planning application to build 180,000 sq ft of new manufacturing space , laboratories and offices on neighbouring land , inside the boundary of the Teesside Freeport .
As well as the newly-available laboratory , two spaces – 4,800 sq ft and nearly 4,000 sq ft – have been freed up in the Wilton Centre ’ s Technical Development Area .
For more information contact : Claire Morton - c . morton @ wiltoncentre . com Richard Wilson – r . wilson @ doddsbrown . co . uk Chris Hartnell – Chris . Hartnell @ carterjonas . co . uk
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