The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 40: Dec/Jan 2018/19 | Page 38

NEW EDUCATION CENTRE FOR DIGITAL & CYBER
Exciting things are happening behind the walls of one of Wiltshire’s
most prized estates- Hartham Park. The business park has big
ambitions to be at the centre of the UK’s vibrant and vital tech scene.
We met with chief digital officer Jack Maxton to find out more.
What is your new role at Hartham?
I started work at Hartham Park in July as
chief digital officer for their investment
portfolio and as programme director to
create an innovative centre for learning and
enterprise.
What did you do before starting at
Hartham Park?
I joined Hartham Park from KPMG where
I was the principal advisor on digital
transformation, technology and cyber
security to boards of directors across the
financial services, life sciences, aerospace
and defence industries. I’ve gained deep
experience in the development of strategy
and change programmes to support
organisations adapting to the changes
demanded by the digital revolution.
Using my extensive knowledge of the UK
technology market, I established the first
Security Innovation programme at KPMG.
Through this I was able to build extensive
contacts across the UK technology market
with start-ups, scale ups and investors.
I have a degree in Chemistry from
Magdalen College, Oxford which I used in
my first job delivering the technology to
create V Power Diesel fuel for Shell in the
Netherlands.
Outside of work, I love all things outdoors,
travelling and good food. I am a board
member for The Scouts, shaping the strategy
for this 550,000+ organisation.
What are the plans for Hartham’s
new education centre?
The world is changing, with new products
entering homes and businesses continuously
collecting data, and new ways to use and
manipulate this data, thus causing huge
growth in related industry. The UK is
expecting a shortfall of around two million
skilled people in the digital and cyber
workforce over the next three years, and the
fact of the matter is that current education
provision will not meet this requirement.
The innovative nature of the subject often
means that even universities are not able to
keep up with the speed of the developments
and thus adjust their curriculum content
accordingly. Maintaining up to date
knowledge is a huge challenge, but Hartham
Hartham Park is known to be
eco-friendly. Will the new building
follow suit?
As part of Hartham Park’s commitment to
protecting the environment, we will ensure all
activities are as eco-friendly as possible. We
are already installing some electric vehicle
chargers on site, and a new woodland area
to commemorate the WW1 Centenary is also
currently being planted for all of the Corsham
community to enjoy for many years to come.
“We have become better at making contact with and
maintaining direct contact with local businesses”
Park can invest in the specific focus required
in order to create a centre of excellence in
digital and cyber education.
We are also committed to ensuring access
to this for all areas of society; with schemes
run in conjunction with the Corsham Institute
to offer specific support for both veterans
returning from service, and to encourage
more women to work in technology
Who has designed it?
Hartham Park’s new education centre
is being designed with Bath-based SRA
Architects. Whilst creating a modern,
technology driven venue, we remain
passionate about preserving the classic
character of the Grade II listed Georgian
mansion house estate.
What type of courses will be run in
the new centre?
The specifics of the courses are currently
being designed, and importantly, with
the technology and cyber security ‘field’
constantly changing, the key is to be flexible
in the content we deliver, and of course
ensure that all content is on the cutting-edge
of innovation. To do this, we will engage with
all local and iconic employers to ensure our
‘graduates’ are able to make an impact from
their first day.
What will the facilities include?
Teaching spaces, inspirational break-out
spaces, kitchens and café, landscaped
pedestrianised courtyard. Then at a later
stage, we are also going to build a new
auditorium on site, to seat several hundred
people. At present, Wiltshire unfortunately
has a severe lack of these kind of venues, and
so a space for our successful businesses to
hold events like large scale talks, seminars
and product launches etc would help
promote the success in the region.
When is the centre set to open?
We are anticipating welcoming our first
students from September 2020.
Will Hartham Park as a business
centre remain the same?
Alongside the creation of the new education
centre, we are also working to create new
innovative workspace for SMEs in the region.
We intend to open this at the same time
as the education centre to create a place
for these companies to come together,
collaborate and drive change in Cyber in the
UK.
We are already home to over 45 companies
ranging from start-ups to much larger
and very well established names in the
technology industry. So, as well as offering
a range of flexible office space with a
co-working hub too for daily hot-desking,
Hartham Park is a spectacular meetings and
events venue where you can utilise the full
range of space from cosy snugs to our grand
stately rooms and sprawling grounds.
As well as facilitating a range of office admin
and virtual services, our business centre
staff are on hand to provide a superior guest
experience in the reception areas for you and
your valued clients.
We also have a fantastic range of wellbeing
activities and networking events for our
members to benefit from, and then last
but certainly not least, there’s the beautiful
Mansion House Café with a delicious
food and hospitality menu created by our
‘Sweetpea Catering’ team.
WORK - MEET - EVENTS - CAFÉ
Be part of the innovative south-west business community at Hartham Park
MAKE HISTORY
01249 700 000
Harthampark.com
Corsham, Wiltshire
Find us from the M4 Junctions 17 & 18
38
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018